STAND REGENERATION OF ALYSICARPUS AND DESMODIUM GERMPLASM IN LOUISIANA

Alysicarpus Necker ex Desv. and Desmodium Desv. have potential for inc reased use as pasture legumes in warm-temperate and subtropical enviro nments. Seven accessions of D. heterocarpon (L.) DC. and 40 accessions of Alysicarpus, primarily A. vaginalis (L.) DC., were evaluated in Lo uisiana in 1995 acid 1996. Single-row plantings with three replication s in randomized complete block designs were established at the Iberia, Rosepine, and Southeast Research Stations. Data collected were visual stand ratings during the 1995 and 1996 growing seasons. An uncharacte ristic period of 96 h with only two brief afternoon periods above free zing in February 1996 at Rosepine provided an opportunity to discrimin ate among entries for winter hardiness and to identify individual plan ts from each D. heterocarpon entry possessing winter hardiness. Alysic arpus plants did not survive the winter, but several accessions produc ed reseeded stands in 1996. Performance of the Alysicarpus germplasm w as substantially better at the Southeast Station than at other locatio ns, while more Desmodium entries survived at Rosepine than at the othe r locations despite lower winter temperatures at Rosepine. The survivi ng D. heterocarpon plants provide a potential source of winter hardine ss for development of a perennial warm-season pasture legume for the l ower gulf coast region.