EFFECT OF CLIMATIC CHANGE SCENERIO ON REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR OF SOME FODDER GRASSES GROWING WILD IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

this regard the estimation of florets formation, sex distribution, anthesis, pollen fertility, pollen germination, seed set and seed germination of Apluda mutica L., Bothriocloa ischaemum (L) Keng, Chrysopogon aucheri (Boiss.) Stapf., C. serrulatus Trin., Cymbopogon caesius (Nees ex Hook. & Arn.) Stapf., C. jwarancusa (Jones,) Schult, C. martinii (Roxb.) Wat., C. commutatus (Steud.) Stapf., Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf., Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf., Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. and Themeda anathera (Nees) Hack. were investigated. These plants were collected from various climatic areas of Pakistan. The results demonstrated that the highest number (348) of florets per inflorescence were found in Cymbopogon jwarancusa (Jones) Schult. from Nathiagally while lowest (135 ± 50) were seen in Apluda mutica from Kallar Kahar Hill. Former species and Bothriochloa produced largest amount of barren florets. It is shown that from November to February the anthesis started early at 6:00AM in Cymbopogon spp. and Sorghum halepense, while Chrysopogon aucheri at 8:00AM. In Cymbopogon spp. and Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. it started ½ hour early during March to May and terminated at 7:00AM, however in Cymbopogon aucheri the anthesis time was from 7:30AM to 8:30AM in the same months. To summarize the anthesis behavior in these grasses, generally it started from 6:00AM morning and continued up to 8:30AM, generally. Except Hyperrhenia, Dicanthium and Cymbopogon jwarancusa, all grasses produced 85% viable pollen grains. Pollen germination significantly increases with increase temperature in some cases. Seed set is poor with higher percentage of seed germination. It is evident that even in considerably higher temperature these grasses show normal behavior. Therefore it is suggested that there should be no negative impact of climate change on these grasses.