Methods and composition for enhanced forage quality

摘要

Disclosed is a method to select an alfalfa plant with enhanced feed value components from a population of alfalfa plants, wherein said population of alfalfa plants comprises a recombinant DNA molecule and wherein said recombinant DNA molecule has at least about 90% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2, comprising: (a) measuring the concentration of acid detergent lignin (ADL), guaiacyl lignin (G-lignin), and neutral detergent fibre digestibility (NDFD) in a lower stem tissue from each of said alfalfa plants in said population of alfalfa plants; (b) selecting an alfalfa plant that comprises the following enhanced feed value components: (i) a concentration of ADL reduced between 12% and about 31% compared to a lower stem tissue of a control alfalfa plant not comprising said DNA molecule; (ii) a concentration of G lignin reduced by about 25% or greater in said lower stem tissue compared to a lower stem tissue of a control alfalfa plant not comprising said DNA molecule; and (iii) a NDFD value increased by greater than 18% in said lower stem tissue compared to a lower stem tissue of a control alfalfa plant not comprising said DNA molecule; and (c) growing the alfalfa plant selected in step (b).