RECENT ADVANCES IN STUDIES OF ANTHRACNOSE OF STYLOSANTHES - III - STYLOSANTHES BREEDING APPROACHES IN SOUTH-AMERICA

Evaluation of natural Stylosanthes germplasm leading to the release of 8 commercial cultivars began in South America in the late 1960s and e arly 1970s, Perceived deficiencies in existing germplasm, including an thracnose susceptibility, led to the initiation of Stylosanthes breedi ng projects as early as 1979. Four of these programs are described. Wh ile each breeding project has made demonstrable progress towards state d objectives, to date, no bred Stylosanthes cultivar has been commerci alised in South America. The reasons for this lack of commercial succe ss are a lack of interest or demand for forage legume technology in th e region, and deficiencies in the products of Stylosanthes breeding pr ojects such as lack of persistence and poor seed yield under grazing. Recent breeding and selection work in Brazil, which builds upon lesson s learned from past experiences, may lead to success in the near futur e.