Harnessing agro-morphological and geographic diversity to develop a core collection of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris)

Abstract

Cenchrus is a diverse genus of major importance in forage production and ecological conservation, with C. ciliaris particularly valued in arid and semi-arid regions for its high biomass yield and drought tolerance. The Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI) conserve 613 accessions of Cenchrus germplasm from 30 countries, representing seven species, and to enhance their utilization a core collection was developed. The entire collection was stratified by geographic origin, and 24 agro-morphological traits were assessed. Using Ward’s clustering method, the accessions were grouped into 58 clusters, from which 10% or at least one accession per cluster was selected. The resulting core subset was validated through mean comparison, variance homogeneity, frequency distribution, coincidence rate, and variable rate, with additional assessment using the Shannon–Weaver diversity index and phenotypic correlations. The final core subset comprised 81 accessions (13.3% of the total collection), and statistical validation confirmed that it effectively captured the diversity structure of the entire set while preserving key phenotypic correlations indicative of co-adapted gene complexes. The core collection represents a manageable and diverse subset of Cenchrus germplasm, offering a valuable resource for trait evaluation, forage improvement, and genomic research.