Abstract
The effect of induced polyploidy on cell wall composition, digestibility and monosaccharide composition of the neutral detergent fibre hydrolysate on two naturally occurring diploid Brachiaria ruziziensis populations of different genetic backgrounds was investigated. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in plant tissues according to ploidy level. The tetraploid lines had significantly higher (P<0.05) concentrations of structural carbohydrates, particularly cellulose and lignin, than their diploid counterparts, but digestibility values were not significantly affected.