POTENTIAL OF CYTISUS AND ALLIED GENERA (GENISTEAE, FABACEAE) AS FORAGE SHRUBS .1. SEED-GERMINATION AND AGRONOMY

The potential adaptability of 19 shrubby legume species belonging to t he genus Cytisus and allied genera (Cytisophyllum, Chamaecytisus, and Genista sect. Teline) for arid regions was studied. Twenty-eight acces sions were assessed for germination level, field survival, height and diametrical growth, and dry matter yields. All accessions had high ger mination, often over 80%, when seeds were scarified with sulphuric aci d for 40 min. Two germination temperatures were tested: constant 16 de grees C and alternating 21/16 degrees C. Optimum temperature varied ac cording to the different species. Cytisophyllum sessilifolium, Cytisus purgans, Cytisus villosus, and Chamaecytisus sp. pi. had more rapid a nd higher germination at 21/16 degrees C compared with at 16 degrees C . In the field, Genista canariensis and G. monspessulana had the highe st growth, and survival around 80%. Chamaecytisus accessions showed th e highest survival and an intermediate growth. Cytisophyllum sessilifo lium, Cytisus heterochrous, Cytisus villosus, and G. linifolia present ed intermediate growth as well, and survival around 75%, whereas the r est of the Cytisus accessions as well as G. tenera, presented very low survival rates.