INTRODUCTION

Brazil is one of the countries with the greatest potential for the production of cattle in pasture system due to its weather conditions and its territorial extension (Rueda et al., 2020). In this context, the importance of the rational use of natural resources is evident, as well as the knowledge regarding the environments where pastures are inserted, such management and systems of animal production can be planned and implemented without risk to sustainability and agricultural yield (Deniz et al., 2020).

Brazilian production of beef cattle maintains itself by using grass a food source for animals due to its low cost of production. However, a big part of pastures is inserted in Brazilian Cerrado, which present low fertility and is frequently exploited by extractivists, entailing a dynamic degradation process of the soil (Maia et al., 2021).

Knowing and quantifying the nutritive value of pastures is an important step to the better choice regarding the forage that will be used, as well as its suitable management. That way, the nutritional value of forage is set by the soil fertility in which it is inserted as well as the weather conditions, physiological age and used management (Pezzopane et al., 2015). Several attributes are linked to the nutritional values of forage, but the low values are associated with the diminished value of crude protein and minerals, with high content of fiber and low digestibility of dry mass (Soest, 1994).

The knowledge of the diverse characteristics of each one of the forages for their proper choice and use is very importance, since it aims to guarantee the productivity and the perenniality of the crops, as well as the gains of the productive systems. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the morpho-physiological characteristics of forage plants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Installation of the experiment

The experiment was carried out in January 2015, in the College of Agricultural and Technological Sciences, Dracena, São Paulo, Brazil; with the following coordinates 21°27'34.393"S and 51°33'19.215" W and altitude around 370 m.

The seeds used in experiment were obtained from a production company in Dracena, São Paulo State, Brazil. Five varieties were studied: Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés/MG-5; Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu; Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça; Urochloa brizantha cv. BRS/Piatã; Urochloa brizantha cv. Paiaguás. A completely randomized design was used, with five repetitions.

Bromatological analysis

Thirty days after installation of the experiment, the aerial part was dried and carried to the Laboratory of Bromatology, at College of Agricultural and Technological Sciences, Dracena, to perform the analysis. After pre-drying, they were milled in a Willey-type knife mill with a 1 mm sieve. The following bromatological analyzes were performed: dry mass (DM%); mineral matter (MM%); crude protein (CP%); dietary fiber in neutral detergent (FND%); dietary fiber in acid detergent (FAD%), according to by Soest, Robertson & Lewis (1991).

Physiological analysis

Before cutting the aerial part, also at the thirtieth day, it was set the chlorophyll index (CI), by directly reading with chlorophyll reading device (CCM-200). The reading was carried out between 10am and 12am, under full sun, in +1 leaves totally expanded. In the same leaf, stomata conductance (COND) was sere, thought Porometer Model AP-4 at the same time of day.

Morphological analysis.

At the same time of samples collecting, the morphological analyses of forage leaves were done. Four pieces of around 5 cm were taken from the middle part of the leaves (leaf +1) from the apex of the stem. The pieces were fixed in solution FAA70 (37% formaldehyde, glacial acetic acid and 70% ethanol in the proportion of 1.0: 1.0: 18.0 - (V / V) and stored in 70% ethanol until the date of analysis. Where they were submitted to all necessary laboratory processes, such as: dehydration, diaphanization, inclusion and embedding (Kraus & Arduin, 1997).

A cross-section of 08 micrometers (μm) was performed with a microtome on each leaf fragment containing the central vein. A histological slide was assembled for each stuck material in which the first cross section was chosen, which presented the most preserved material, without damage or injury caused by the cut in the plant tissues. Sections were stained with 1% safranin and mounted on slide and coverslips with adhesive for fixation. The measurements of leaves’ parameters were done in central vein, with an optical microscope Olympus® brand BX43 model, with attached camera to perform photos of the slides. Photos were used to the measurements of the anatomical parameters with the software of images analysis CellSens Standart, with a microscopic ruler in photos zoom, as described by Figueiredo, Ramos, Viana, Lisboa & Heinrichs (2013).

The following leaves’ anatomy parameters were set: thickness of adaxial epidermis (TAdE); thickness of the abaxial epidermis (TAbE); thickness of adaxial cuticle (TAdC); thickness of abaxial cuticle (TAbC); mesophile thickness (MT); diameter of the leaf phloem (LDP); and diameter of leaf xylem (LDX).

Statiscal analysis

The results were submitted to the F test (p<0,05) and its average compared by the Turkey Test, at 5% probability (Banzatto & Kronka, 2013). Statistic program Assistat 7.7 was used. (Silva & Azevedo, 2016).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

As Table 1 shows, to the content of dry mass, Mombaça presented the greatest result. Notably, animals productivity is entailed by structural characteristics of the vegetal, specifically the proportion of leaves, which is directly linked to production of dry mass (Maia et al., 2021).

Average values of dry mass, mineral matter and crude protein, dietary fiber in neutral detergent, dietary fiber in acid detergent are expressed in chemical and bromatological composition of forages. They play an important role and are responsible for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of forage. These parameters, besides the total dietary nutrients and in vitro digestibility of dry mass, may have a direct or indirect influence on the voluntary consumption of dry mass, consequently, on animal production (Soest, 1994).

Regarding the mineral matter content, Marandu presented the highest value, followed by BRS/Piatã and Paiaguás. The mineral composition of forages plants varies according to independent factors, such as plant age, soil fertility, used fertilization, the difference between the species and season in which they are consumed by the animals. The lower concentration of minerals in the plant may occur due to a minor concentration of minerals in soil, a diminished genetic capacity of mineral accumulation, or even an indication of smaller needs of the plants to its growth regarding minerals. Similarly, higher concentrations, even in toxic levels, are indicative of its excess in soil, plant genetic capacity of higher accumulation, or greater need of minerals for its growth (Lisboa et al., 2021).

Crude protein did not display significant difference between the studied forages and none of the values performed under 21%. According to Soest (1994), values under 7% of crude protein lead to a reduction of its digestibility by animals due to the unsuitable amount of nitrogen available for rumen microorganisms, entailing the decrease of population and diminishing digestibility of dry mass.

Similarly, significant difference was not observed in dietary fiber in neutral detergent (FND%), which presented values above 42%. Garcia-Amezquita, Viacava, Jacobo Velázquez (2020) affirms that dietary fiber in neutral detergent (FND%) is the most limiting factor regarding the bulky food consumption by animals. Values above 55% in cell wall negatively influence forage consumption. That way the concentration of dietary fiber in neutral detergent (FND%) is directly linked to animal consumption.

Xaraés presented the highest value of dietary fiber in acid detergent (FAD%), values around 40%, or above, lead to a low consumption by the animals, as well as to a smaller digestibility (Skamarokhova, Yurina, Bedilo, Yurin & Ashinov, 2020; Hansen, et al. 2021). Malafaia, Valadares Filho, Vieira, Silva & Pedreira (1997) found levels of 80.45% FND and 44.94% FDA for Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu cuts during the rainy season.

Average values of morpho-physiological analyzes of leaves different forage leaves are displayed in Table 2.

Table 2. Average values of chlorophyll index (CI); stomata conductance (COND); thickness of adaxial epidermis (TAdE); thickness of abaxial epidermal (TAbE); thickness of adaxial cuticle (TAdC); thickness of abaxial cuticle thickness (TAbC) of different forage species. Dracena, 2015.

Chlorophyll index (CI) presented a significant difference between the forages species, once Piatã presented the highest value, followed by Xaraés/MG-5 (Table 2). Bazame, et al. (2020) found similar values by studying the consortium of corn with the Urochloa brizantha species associated with nitrogen fertilization. The authors highlight the presence of nitrogen is a limiting factor to the concentration of chlorophyll in forages, agreeing with (Costa et al., 2015).

Regarding the stomatal conductance (COND), no significant effect was found among the evaluated species. A lower stomata conductance is an indicative that the vegetal diminishes its transpiration due to the closure of its stomata, entailing a smaller fixation of atmospheric carbon to the production of dry mass (Luna-Guerrero et al., 2020), which impairs the vegetal’ development. However, as described above, Monbaça presented a higher value to the content of dry mass (DM%), without demonstrating a significant difference in stomata conductance. Also, the opening and closure process of the stomata is closely related to light intensity. That way, the results may be linked to the reflex of high intensity light, which closes the stomata cleft, resulting in no difference among the treatments. Under high temperatures, the highest carbon assimilation rate can be inhibited by diminishing the stomata conductance (Cabrera, Hirl, Schaufele, Mcdonald & Schnyder, 2021).

To the characteristic thickness of adaxial epidermis (TAdE), Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés/MG-5 presented the highest average value, as Urochloa brizantha cv. Paiaguás highlighted in the thickness of adaxial epidermis (TAbE). The epidermis is often subjected to different changes in its structure, once it is in direct contact with the environment. Epidermal cells are usually uniseriate, live and vacuolated. Besides, they are juxtaposed, without spaces between them. Thess characteristics are very important, since one of the functions of epidermis is restrict the loss of water (Castro, Pereira & Paiva, 2009).

The thickness of adaxial cuticle (TAdC) and thickness of abaxial cuticle thickness (TAbC) did not present significant difference in the studied species. Biotic and abiotic stress may influence ihe epidermal thickness of leaves (Lisboa et al., 2021). As the main functions of these issues are the protection of the vegetal’ surface and gas exchange, including steam, plants that contain epidermis may protect their mesophile against several injuries (Carrizo et al., 2020).

CONCLUSIONS

Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu highlights in mineral matter (MM) and as Xaraés does in dietary fiber in acid detergent (FAD%).

Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés/MG-5 presented better results in the following characteristics: thickness of adaxial epidermis (TAdE); diameter of the leaf phloem (LDP) and diameter of leaf xylem (LDX).

Urochloa brizantha cv. Paiaguás presented the best results regarding thickness of the abaxial epidermis (TAbE)

In general, Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés/MG-5 highlighted regarding morphological features among the studied forages species.

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Author notes

lucas.lisboa@unesp.br

Additional information

Conflict of interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author’s contribution: All authors made substantial contributions to the conception and design of this study, to data analysis and interpretation, and the manuscript revision and approval of the final version. All the authors assume responsibility for the content of the manuscript.