ESTUDIO DE LAS FASES DE DESARROLLO DE PANICULAS DE GUINEA CV. LIKONI Y SU EFECTO EN LA PRODUCCION Y CALIDAD DE LAS SEMILLAS

Abstract

A 150 m plot sown with P. maximum cv. Likoni was randomly sampled with five repetitions. A complete randomized block design was used. The objective was to study the different developmental phases (DPh) of panicles. Three harvests were made: H1-March to April, H2-July to August and H3-October to November. Ten DPh were defined: from full leaf flag emergence until empty panicle. The highest full seed yield per panicle was obtained in H1 (383,71 mg) as well as the highest fertile seed production (213,0 mg). Differences (P<0,001) in DPh-7 (50-60% of threshing; after 15 days of full leaf flag emergence) were recorded. The highest full seed yield (463 mg per panicle) and highest fertile seed yield (108 mg per panicle) were also found with H2 during DPh-7 after 23 days of full leaf flag emergence. However, H3 had the best full seed yields (317,7 mg per panicle) and the best fertile seed yields (127 mg per panicle) during DPh-6 (after 13 days of full leaf flag emergence). It is considered that the harvest should be made by means of phenological observations after 13 to 23 days of full leaf flag emergence and after 50-60% of threshing has occurred.