U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Dairy Forage Research: Madison, WI
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Midwest Area Madison, Wisconsin U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center Dairy Forage Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Riday, Heathcliffeitem
                                            Hatfield, Ronald
  Submitted to: Forage Focus
                                    Publication Type: Trade Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2009
                                    Publication  Date: 8/1/2009
                                    Citation: Riday, H., Hatfield, R.D. 2009. Progress report on reduced-lignin alfalfa: part 1, plant modifications. Forage Focus. May. p. 2-3.Interpretive Summary: Alfalfa is the most important forage legume in U.S. dairy cow diets because it has a high protein content, it increases feed intake and milk production, and it is an excellent complement to non-forage components of dairy cow diets. But the cell wall lignin in alfalfa (as with other plants) cannot be digested by dairy cattle. Researchers have been studying lignin for many years in an attempt to find ways for cows to more completely digest cell walls. Using reduced-lignin transgenic alfalfa plants produced by Forage Genetics International and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, researchers at the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, in collaboration with the Consortium for Alfalfa Improvement, conducted a study to evaluate two key lignin biosynthetic enzymes (referred to as COMT and CCOMT) in alfalfa plants to determine the agronomic effects of downregulating these enzymes in a field setting. Early studies show that agronomically useful lignin-modified cultivars are commercially feasible because, wherever the plants are grown, the reduced lignin trait will be expressed without negatively impacting alfalfa stand performance. This study provides important information to plant breeders as they move forward in developing reduced-lignin alfalfa plants that may improve the efficiency of alfalfa digestion by dairy cattle.
                                Technical Abstract: Alfalfa is the most important forage legume in U.S. dairy cow diets because it has a high protein content, it increases feed intake and milk production, and it is an excellent complement to non-forage components of dairy cow diets. It is also an excellent source of effective fiber which is essential for maintaining proper rumen function and cow health.  With alfalfa, as with other plants, contents inside the cell wall (i.e. protein, soluble sugars, and starch) are completely digestible. Sometimes, however, intact cell walls keep cell contents from being “released” during digestion, making these nutrients unavailable to the cow. Alfalfa would be a better energy source if more carbohydrates within cells were available. Using transgenic alfalfa plants produced by Forage Genetics International and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, researchers at the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, in collaboration with the Consortium for Alfalfa Improvement, conducted a study to evaluate two key lignin biosynthetic enzymes (referred to as COMT and CCOMT) in alfalfa plants to determine the agronomic effects of downregulating these enzymes in a field setting. Plants were grown in three field environments (Prairie du Sac, WI; West Salem, WI; and Ardmore, OK) and harvested three to four times a year at each location during 2005 and 2006. Transgenic alfalfa plants have been generated that show decreased lignin content and increased fiber digestibility.  Early studies show that agronomically useful lignin-modified cultivars are commercially feasible because, wherever the plants are grown, the reduced lignin trait will be expressed without negatively impacting alfalfa stand performance.  Future research will focus on additional or alternative ways to decrease lignin’s impact on digestibility, such as understanding how lignin cross-links to other wall components.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov