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Napier grass ('Pennisetum purpureum' Schumach.) is the main fodder for the dairy industry in eastern and southern Africa as in many other tropical/subtropical regions of the world. Plant water relations were assessed for two cultivars of Napier grass; Local and Bana, the latter being an infertile hybrid between 'P. purpureum' and 'P. glaucum'. Plants were grown in a controlled environment at diurnal maximum temperatures of either 25 or 35°C to assess their tissue water relations in response to variable water supply (25, 50 or 100% field capacity) to mimic current and possible future climatic conditions in east Africa. At 25% watering and 25°C Local had higher midday relative water content (RWC) than Bana, but not at 50 or 100% field capacity, at which RWC was higher for Bana than for the Local. At the cooler 25°C, Bana attained a leaf water potential (LWP) minimum of -2.88 MPa at 25% watering, while Local had -2.27 MPa. At 100% watering and 35°C, Bana had higher RWC and LWP than Local at 25%. In a hotter environment, Bana appears to maintain higher water status than Local at 25% when soil is at field capacity while other watering responses appear similar for both cultivars. |
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