Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

ISSN 2736-1756

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2005

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2005 International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Photoperiodism in Digitaria exilis (Kipp) Stapf accessions

A.A. Aliero1 and J.A. Morakinyo2*

1Dept. of Biological Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.

2Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Accepted February 17, 2005

Abstract

Three varieties of Digitaria exilis namely, white mbulus, jakashale and red dapys were grown in planting chamber and the effect of photoperiod on flowering was investigated. The photoperiods were eleven, twelve and thirteen hours. Highly significant differences (p<0.01) were recorded for the number of days to flowering as affected by photoperiods. The interaction between the photoperiods and varieties was also found to be significant (p<0.01). The results also show that white mbulus is a short day plant while Jakashale is day length neutral. Jakashale could therefore be a source of useful genes for improvement of “acha” for an all year round production.

Key words: Digitaria exilis, photoperiods, flowering.