Agronomic, nutritive value, reproductive, cytogenetic, and molecular aspects of Paspalum accessions: Contribution to the development of new forage cultivars

This study investigated the agronomic, nutritive value, cytogenetic, molecular, and reproductive aspects of twenty-five Paspalum accessions to support breeding programs. The agronomic aspects and the nutritive value were evaluated in a randomized block experimental design with four replications, and with monthly repeated measures for 2 years. For the molecular characterization 16 microsatellite markers developed for different Paspalum species in previous works were used. The number of chromosomes was determined by visualizing the meiotic cells and the DNA content was determined by flow cytometry. The embryo sac clarification technique was used to characterize the reproductive system. The results indicated genetic variability for all the variables related to yield and nutritive value. For almost all variables, the values of Paspalum accessions were higher than those of the commercial cultivars Megathyrsus maximus cv. Tanzania and Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu, used as references. However, the accessions showed in vitro dry matter digestibility values lower than the mean value presented by the references. The groups formed in the molecular analysis showed correspondence to the groups observed in the principal components analysis, considering the variables related to yield and nutritive value. Most accessions were revealed to be tetraploid with 40 chromosomes and most accessions belonging to the Virgata group displayed a sexual embryo sac structure. Some crosses can be indicated for genetic breeding, due to a superior genomic affinity between the accessions and the higher probability of heterosis in the progeny. These results provide subsidies to genetic plant breeding programs that use these accessions.