Abstract

A high yielding and nutritious Cumbu Napier hybrid, TNCN 014 was developed at the Department of Forage Crops, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore and released as CO (CN) 4. It is an interspecific hybrid between Fodder Cumbu, CO 8 and Napier grass, FD 461. As the hybrid is a triploid, it displays complete sterility and luxurious vegetative growth. Being an asexually reproducible crop, the hybrid vigour can be maintained permanently without any deterioration. TNCN 014 is ideotypically possessed with ideal features. It is well adopted to the soil and climatic conditions of Tamil Nadu. It is highly palatable, muchpreferred by milch animals, goat and sheep. It registered a mean green fodder yield of 382 t/ha/ year, which was 33 per cent yield increase over the check variety CO 3

Keywords: CO (CN) 4, Cumbu Napier hybrid grass, green fodder yield, triploid