Is There A Yield Penalty to Low Lignin Alfalfa
2017
- University of Wisconsin Madison, Department of Agronomy
Project Media
The GM reduced lignin trait has been released commercially in conjunction with Monsanto Company under the brand name of HarvXtra alfalfa.
One study in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania evaluated the trait with and without grass. HarvXtra was seen to have higher fiber digestibility than a conventional line in both the seeding year and the first production year. There was no yield drag due to the reduced lignin trait. Further, if the HarvXtra trait harvest was delayed 10 days to have similar quality to conventional varieties, the HarvXtra trait was always significantly higher in yield.