Morphology of diaspores of some range grasses of Punjab

Abstract

Subtropical vegetation coupled with agrarian land use accounts for predominance of grasses in Punjab. With cereal crops occupying most part of the agricultural lands, fodder crops get a marginal share resulting in shortage of fodder, particularily in the winter season. This shortage may be met through facilitated propagation of various grass species in the rangelands. After the initial success of growing guinea grass, Panicum maximum Jacq. in social forestry lands, the stage has been set for trying out propagation of other grass species viz. Brachiaria ramosa (L.) Stapf, B. reptans (L.) Gardner & Hubbard, Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. etc. on a variety of soil and moisture conditions. In view of the expanding desert line in the state, these efforts are urgently required. Propagation to new areas may be brought about by vegetative means in caespitose and sod forming types, but in single culm and bunch grasses, amphimictic propagules contained in the diaspores (the dispersal units) provide the only method. Present studies have brought to light the diversity of structure and mechanism of dispersal of diaspores of about forty grass species in the area of study. This information may be utilized in devising strategies for facilitated propagation of these species in rangelands to boost fodder production in the state.