RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Integrating molecular insights on stress responses and agronomic traits for breeding in forage grasses
A1 Achon Forno, Ignacio
A1 Enciso Maldonado, Guillermo Andrés
AB In Latin America, pasture-based systems form the backbone of cattle production, with tropical forage grasses providing the primary and most economical feed source for ruminants. These grasses are cultivated across millions of hectares because of their high biomass yield, adaptability to poor soils, and suitability for extensive grazing. However, shifting land-use patterns and climate change are pushing forage systems into more marginal environments, where water scarcity and declining soil fertility compromise productivity and nutritional quality. Despite their critical role in regional and global livestock supply chains, tropical forage grasses have historically received limited breeding attention, largely owing to biological constraints such as apomixis, polyploidy, and self-incompatibility. This review explores the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating key morphophysiological traits in tropical forage species, focusing on plant responses to abiotic (e.g. drought, heat) and biotic (e.g. pests, pathogens) stress. We highlight progress in building genomic resources, with emphasis on quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, transcriptomics, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which are uncovering trait-linked markers that can inform selection strategies. Additionally, we examine how transgenic technologies and gene editing tools such as CRISPR-Cas can be employed to circumvent reproductive barriers and accelerate the development of improved cultivars. By integrating conventional breeding with cutting-edge molecular tools, we propose a roadmap for developing climate-resilient, nutritionally enhanced tropical forages to support the long-term sustainability of grass-based livestock systems.
PB CSIRO Publishing
SN 1836-0947
YR 2025
FD 2025-12-24
LK http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14066/4727
UL http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14066/4727
LA eng
NO Achon, I., & Enciso-Maldonado, G. A. (2025). Integrating molecular insights on stress responses and agronomic traits for breeding in forage grasses. Crop & Pasture Science, 77(1), Article CP25162.https://doi.org/10.1071/CP25162
NO Correspondence to: Ignacio Achon. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Campus de la UNA, Km 11, San Lorenzo, Central 110202, Paraguay. Email: ignacio.achon@agr.una.py.Guillermo Andrés Enciso-Maldonado. Universidad Católica ‘Nuestra Señora de la Asunción’, Unidad Pedagógica Hohenau, Avenue P. Guillermo Hutte c/ Asunción Flores, Hohenau, Itapúa 71401, Paraguay. Email: guillermo.enciso@uc.edu.py.
NO Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología
DS MINDS@UW
RD 03-sep-2026