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A trispecific hybrid, MTP (hereafter called tripsazea), was developed from intergeneric crosses involving tetraploid Zea mays (2n = 4x = 40, genome: MMMM), tetraploid Tripsacum dactyloides (2n = 4x = 72, TTTT), and tetraploid Z. perennis (2n = 4x = 40, PPPP). On crossing maize-Tripsacum (2n = 4x = 56, MMTT) with Z. perennis, 37 progenies with varying chromosome numbers (36-74) were obtained, and a special one (i.e., tripsazea) possessing 2n = 74 chromosomes was generated. Tripsazea is perennial and expresses phenotypic characteristics affected by its progenitor parent. Flow cytometry analysis of tripsazea and its parents showed that tripsazea underwent DNA sequence elimination during allohexaploidization. Of all the chromosomes in diakinesis I, 18.42% participated in heterogenetic pairing, including 16.43% between the M- and P-genomes, 1.59% between the M- and T-genomes, and 0.39% in T- and P-genome pairing. Tripsazea is male sterile and partly female fertile. In comparison with previously synthesized trihybrids containing maize, Tripsacum and teosinte, tripsazea has a higher chromosome number, higher seed setting rate, and vegetative propagation ability of stand and stem. However, few trihybrids possess these valuable traits at the same time. The potential of tripsazea is discussed with respect to the deployment of the genetic bridge for maize improvement and forage breeding.

The use of forage species adapted to the local environment allows an easier management, and greater production and stability. It also allows the conservation of the natural genetic resources, and the reduction of the costs and risks of production that further result in higher sustainability of the system. Forage quality may not be considered as important as biomass production in many forage systems. However, when forage plants constitute most or all of the ruminant diet it assumes substantially greater importance. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the crude protein (CP) content of hybrids of P. plicatulum x P. guenoarum, in a region of Southern Brazil in the Pampa biome. The hybrids evaluated were: 10202, 1020104, 102084, 102080, 1020133, 102058, 102069 (P. plicatulum “4PT” x P. guenoarum “Azulão”), 103063, 10308, 103042, 103040, 103061, 103077, 103087, 103093, 103031, 103020, 103084, and 103037 (P. plicatulum “4PT” x P. guenoarum “Baio”). The CP analyzes were performed on the leaves of the genotypes in each harvest. The hybrid 102069 “Azulão” presented the best CP content (16.4%) compared to the other genotypes in both years. These results are encouraging for forage breeding studies with species of the genus Paspalum.

The Cynodon spp. collection maintained by United States Department of Agriculture National Plant Germplasm System (USDA-NPGS) has limited information on nutritive value (NV) traits. In this study, crude protein (CP), phosphorous concentration (P), in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were determined to (i) estimate genetic parameters for NV, (ii) obtain genetic values for the whole population across two harvests, (iii) estimate genotype by harvest interaction (GHI) for NV traits, and (iv) select accessions exhibiting improved NV traits compared to &lsquo, Tifton 85&prime, The experiment was setup as a row-column design with two replicates and augmented representation of controls: Tifton 85, &lsquo, Jiggs&rsquo, and &lsquo, Coastal&rsquo, The whole-population was harvested twice, and data were analyzed using linear mixed models with repeated measures. In addition, a selected population of 15 genotypes were evaluated across 11 harvests to determine the extent of GHI. Genetic parameters revealed the presence of significant genetic variability, indicating potential improvements for NV through breeding. Specifically, P and IVDOM presented large variation, while NDF had lower diversity but some accessions exhibited lower NDF than Tifton 85. Low GHI, except for IVDOM, indicated genotypic stability and potential for selecting improved accessions under fewer harvests. Breeding line 240, PI-316510, and PI-3166536 presented superior NV than Tifton 85.

Forage plant breeders often use visual scores to assess agronomic traits because of the costs associated with in-depth phenotyping in the initial stages of breeding cycles. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the number of graders on the effectiveness of indirect selection of high-yielding genotypes and determine an optimal number of graders in the early-stage trials of Urochloa ruziziensis. For that purpose, five graders assessed 2.219 U. ruziziensis genotypes in an augmented block design. Biomass production and vigor scores were evaluated in two cuts and were analyzed using a linear mixed model approach. Vigor scores were analyzed considering each grader's score and the combinations of two, three, four, and five graders. Genetic variance was significant for both traits. Visual evaluation was effective in identifying productive genotypes based on the statistical criteria. The optimal number of graders for indirect selection of high-yielding U. ruziziensis genotypes is three.

Perennial grass hybrids of Urochloa are evaluated for at least two years during the screening stage trials (SS) and advanced trials (AD) in breeding programs, an expensive and time-consuming process. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential for early selection of cultivars in this breeding scheme. We used multiple measurements of agronomic and nutritive value traits of Urochloa humidicola and Urochloa decumbens in the SS, and Urochloa ssp. in the AD. Repeatability coefficient, genetic correlation, selection efficiency (SE), and Spearman correlations were estimated. The results indicated that reliable early selection could be applied, decreasing the evaluation period to one year and a half for SS, and to one year for AD. These results were confirmed by high genetic and rank correlations, and overall SE above 50%. This proposed change in the breeding scheme could save considerable time, labor, and resources and accelerate the release of improved cultivars.

Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) is a forage and turf crop commonly used worldwide. The USDA bermudagrass germplasm set is composed of plant introductions (PI’s) collected around the world and contains different Cynodon species, primarily C. dactylon. The collection was screened in a replicated trial in Florida for forage yield, leaf width, nutritive value (NV), and Bermudagrass Stem Maggot (Atherigona reversura) (BSM), which is an invasive pest to the southeastern United States that damages bermudagrass fields. The goal of this research was to determine ploidy level and genome size in this USDA collection, and evaluate the influence of ploidy level in the estimation of genetic parameters for BSM, leaf width, dry matter yield, and NV traits. For chromosome counts using classical cytogenetics techniques, root tips and meristems were collected from a set of PI’s with known ploidy. The PI’s and cultivars with known chromosome counts were used as internal standards to run flow cytometry and estimate genome size of the PI’s with unknown ploidy. Ploidy level was determined for all accessions and were used to estimate genetic parameters of phenotypic traits. By providing information on ploidy levels and genetic parameters, this research will support breeding efforts and future selections for forage bermudagrass.

Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L. syn. Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link) is a species that is highly tolerant to drought and is used primarily as forage in drier regions throughout the subtropics and tropics. It reproduces mainly by apomixis and the acquisition of obligate sexual genotypes or facultative apomicts with high levels of sexuality is required for performing crosses and plant improvement. The aim of this study was to obtain sexual genotypes from controlled crosses using obligate apomictic cultivars and a sexual line. Twelve putative hybrid F1 plants were selected morphologically and two of them were identified as sexual genotypes by PCR using specific primers for reproductive mechanism. Cytoembryological analysis showed 65.5 and 71.3% meiotic embryo sacs in these plants and their hybrid nature was corroborated by AFLP. Both highly sexual genotypes could be used as female parents in crosses for obtaining improved cultivars of buffel grass. Fil: Quiroga, M.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Geneticos Vegetales; Argentina Fil: Grunberg, Karina Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Geneticos Vegetales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Ribotta, A.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Geneticos Vegetales; Argentina Fil: Lopez Colomba, Eliana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Geneticos Vegetales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Carloni, E.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Geneticos Vegetales; Argentina Fil: Tomassino, E.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Geneticos Vegetales; Argentina Fil: Luna, Celina Mercedes. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Geneticos Vegetales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Griffa, S.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Geneticos Vegetales; Argentina

This experiment was carried out with the objectives of determining repeatability coefficients, the number of harvests necessary to increase accuracy and the genotypic stability of yield characteristics in Brachiaria brizantha cultivars in the northeast region of Brazil in the period from July 2009 to March 2011. The experimental design used was completely randomized with three treatments (Brachiaria brizantha var. Marandu, Xaraés and Piatã) and three replications. Each plot was harvested seven times: five in the rainy season and two in the dry season. Immediately after each harvest, the forage was weighed and dried to obtain total, stem, leaf and dead dry matter yields. For the estimation of the repeatability coefficient, analysis of variance, principal components (correlation and covariance matrices) and structural analyses were used. The repeatability coefficients (r) obtained by the different methods, for all characteristics evaluated, varied from 0.009 to 0.837. The estimates of the repeatability coefficients obtained for all characteristics evaluated by the method of analyses of variance were almost always lower than those obtained by the other methods. By the principal components method (based on the covariance matrix), the estimates were always higher than those from other methods. Considering that levels of 80 or 90% confidence are satisfactory in the evaluation of the relative superiority of the cultivars for all the evaluated characteristics, with the exception of dead matter yield, the seven harvests are sufficient for the choice of the best cultivar to be used in the northeast region of Brazil.

Yellow sweet clover is a widely spread legume species that has potential to be used as a forage crop in Western China. However, limited information is available on the genetic variation for herbage yield, key morphological traits, and coumarin content. In this study, 40 half sib (HS) families of M. officinalis were evaluated for genotypic variation and phenotypic and genotypic correlation for the traits: LS (leaf to stem ratio), SV (spring vigor), LA (leaf area), PH (plant height), DW (herbage dry weight), SD (stem diameter), SN (stem number), Cou (coumarin content), SY (seed yield), across two locations, Yuzhong and Linze, in Western China. There was significant (P < 0.05) genotypic variation among the HS families for all traits. There was also significant (P < 0.05) genotype-by-environment interaction for the traits DW, PH, SD, SN, and SV. The estimates of HS family mean repeatability across two locations ranged from 0.32 for SN to 0.89 for LA. Pattern analysis generated four HS family groups where group 3 consisted of families with above average expression for DW and below average expression for Cou. The breeding population developed by polycrossing the selected HS families within group 3 will provide a significant breeding pool for M. officinalis cultivar development in China.

The objective of this work was to estimate genetic parameters for agronomic traits and resistance to spittlebugs in B. decumbens hybrids and to select the ones with best performance. For that, 324 hybrids were evaluated in field plots for agronomic traits and in the greenhouse for resistance to spittlebugs. Genetic variability amongst the hybrids was observed for all traits analyzed. The heritability estimates between genotypes means were higher than 0.52 for all agronomic traits and 0.98 and 0.99 for nymphal survival and nymphal period duration respectively. Hybrids with better performance than cultivar Basilisk for each individual trait were identified and also through a selection index combining all traits. Assigning weights to the different traits in the selection index did not significantly alter the rank for superior hybrids. Those were selected to continue on to the next phases of the breeding program. Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar parâmetros genéticos para caracteres agronômicos e de resistência às cigarrinhas-das-pastagens em híbridos de Brachiaria decumbens e selecionar os de melhor desempenho. Trezentos e vinte e quatro híbridos foram avaliados em campo para caracteres agronômicos e em casa de vegetação para resistência às cigarrinhas-das-pastagens. Observou-se existência de variabilidade genética entre os híbridos para todos os caracteres analisados. As estimativas de herdabilidade entre médias de genótipos foram superiores a 0,52 para todos os caracteres agronômicos e de 0,98 para sobrevivência ninfal e 0,99 para duração do período ninfal. Híbridos com melhor desempenho em relação a cultivar Basilisk foram identificados para cada caráter individualmente e conjuntamente por meio de índices de seleção. A atribuição de pesos diferentes entre os caracteres nos índices de seleção não alterou significativamente o ranqueamento dos híbridos. Híbridos superiores foram selecionados para as próximas etapas do programa de melhoramento.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar a repetibilidade de características agronômicas e determinar a quantidade adequada de cortes para seleção de Urochloa ruziziensis. Foram avaliadas 118 progênies de meio-irmãos de U. ruziziensis, além das cultivares Basilisk (U. decumbens), Marandu (U. brizantha), Comum (U. ruziziensis) e um acesso de Urochloa sp. como testemunhas. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com duas repetições, parcelas de uma linha com 3,0 m e espaçamento de 1,0x0,5 m. Foram realizados sete cortes, em intervalos médios de 60 e 90 dias, nas épocas chuvosas e secas, respectivamente. Avaliaram-se: altura de planta, massa de matéria seca (MS), massa de matéria verde (MV) e percentagem de matéria seca (PMS). A repetibilidade foi estimada pelos seguintes métodos: análise de variância; componentes principais, pela matriz de covariâncias e pela matriz de correlações; e análise estrutural pela matriz de correlações. As estimativas de repetibilidade variaram de 0,31-0,38 para altura de plantas, 0,31-0,43 para MV, 0,16-0,50 para PMS, e 0,23-0,43 para MS; com coeficientes de determinação entre 57-87%. O número de cortes necessários para estimar o valor real das características variou entre 7-8 para MV e altura de plantas, e 10-14 para MS e PMS, com coeficientes de determinação igual ou superior a 80%. The objective of this work was to estimate the repeatability of agronomic traits and to determine the appropriate number of cuts for selectig Urochloa ruziziensis. One hundred and eighteen progenies of half-sib U. ruziziensis and four checks, the cultivars Basilisk (U. decumbens), Marandu (U. brizantha), Comum (U. ruziziensis) and one access Urochloa sp. were evaluated. A randomized complete block with two replications and plots in a 3.0-m line with 1.0x0.5-m spacing was used. Seven cuts were made at intervals of 60 and 90 days in wet and dry seasons, respectively. The evaluated characteristics were: plant height, dry matter weight (DM), fresh matter weight (FM) and percentage of dry matter (PDM). The repeatability was estimated by analysis of variance, principal components of the covariance matrix and of the correlation matrix, and structural analysis using the correlation matrix. Repeatability estimates varied from 0.31-0.38 for plant height, 0.31-0.43 for FM, 0.16-0.50 for PDM and 0.23-0.43 for DM, with coefficients of determination between 57-87%. The number of cuts necessary to assess the actual value of the characteristics ranged between 7-8 cuts for FM and plant height, and 10-14 for DM and PDM, with coefficients of determination greater than 80%.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance of B. ruziziensis clones to the spittlebug species Deois schach and Mahanarva spectabilis. Together with the cultivar Marandu (B. brizantha) and the progenies 77s, 85s and 106s as controls, 71 B. ruziziensis clones were evaluated in a randomized block design. Six spittlebug eggs about to hatch were artificially infested and 40 days later evaluated for the percentage of surviving nymphs and plant damage based on a rating scale. Analysis of variance identified significant differences for nymph survival and plant damage of both spittlebug species. Since nymph survival and damage scores of the clones 100, 95, 19, 42, 93, 4, 92, 47, 26, 63, and 58 were similar to Marandu, these can be considered resistant to insect pests. These results, besides demonstrating the existence of genetic variability for a possible selection, offer hope for an identification of B. ruziziensis spittlebug-resistant genotypes. Made available in DSpace on 2022-08-09T17:20:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Genetic-variability-in-Brachiaria-ruziziensis-for-resistance-to-spittlebugs.pdf: 766323 bytes, checksum: 82b938be46d98fbd4b0223ca250319ed (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010

cv. Basilisk is the single most important forage grass used for pastures in the tropics. This cultivar has exceptional adaptation to acid soils, vigorous growth, ease of establishment, and good forage value throughout the year, but these favorable character-istics are counteracted by its susceptibility to insect pests − spittlebugs. Breeding to produce improved cultivars within this species regrowth score was a combined score from 0 (poor) to 6 was impossible until 2009 due to the lack of compatible sexual ecotypes. With the success of somatic chromosome duplication of sexually reproduc-ing diploid plants of

O gênero Brachiaria é constituído por cerca de cem espécies, sendo de grande interesse para o melhoramento genético das espécies forrageiras a correta classificação dos acessos envolvidos nos programas de hibridação. Foram analisados 301 acessos, pertencentes a seis diferentes espécies de braquiária, nos quais foram avaliadas características vegetativas, reprodutivas e de pilosidade. Foram realizadas análises discriminantes de Anderson para cada um dos três grupos de caracteres morfológicos, sendo estabelecidas funções para as seis espécies. As taxas de classificação correta para os caracteres vegetativos, reprodutivos e de pilosidade foram, respectivamente, as seguintes: B. brizantha (74,00; 69,33 e 30,67%), B. decumbens (63,04; 89,13 e 65,22%), B. humidicola (52,78; 69,44 e 52,78%), B. jubata (83,87; 77,42 e 64,52%), B. ruziziensis (89,29; 92,86 e 85,71%) e B. dictyoneura (80,00; 70,00 e 70,00%). Os caracteres vegetativos e reprodutivos mostraram ser os mais eficientes, enquanto os de pilosidade foram os menos eficientes na classificação e discriminação das espécies. The genus Brachiaria encompasses about one hundred species and the correct classification of the accessions involved in the breeding programs is of great interest for the genetic improvement of this forage species. Three hundred and one accessions of six different Brachiaria species were analyzed, in which vegetative, reproductive and pubescence characteristics were evaluated. Anderson's discriminant analyses were conducted for each one of the three groups of morphological traits and discriminant functions were established for the six species. Rates of correct classification for the vegetative, reproductive and pubescence characteristics were, respectively: B. brizantha (74.00%, 69.33% and 30.67%), B. decumbens (63.04%, 89.13% and 65.22%), B. humidicola (52.78%, 69.44% and 52.78%), B. jubata (83.87%, 77.42% and 64.52%), B. ruziziensis (89.29%, 92.86% and 85.71%) e B. dictyoneura (80.00%, 70.00% and 70.00%). The vegetative and reproductive traits showed to be the most efficient, while the pubescence group was the least efficient in the classification and discrimination of the species.

Acroceras macrum is a warm-season grass used for pas-tures, and it has high nutritive value. The scarcegenetic and reproductive information about this grassis limiting its breeding for forage. The objective of thisresearch was to determine the number of genotypesand cytotypes present in a collection established inArgentina, and to estimate the diversity of this speciesbased on molecular markers, and morphological andagronomic characteristics. The number of genotypesamong forty-seven accessions was determined usingISSR markers. The identified genotypes were furthercharacterized for ploidy levels. In addition, the geneticdistances among them were estimated with ISSRmarkers. They were also propagated and planted intothe field following a randomized complete blockdesign with four replications, and a group of sixteenmorphological and agronomic variables were evalu-ated. A total of twenty-seven genotypes were identi-fied in this collection; twenty-two genotypes weretetraploid (2n = 4x = 36) and five were hexaploid(2n = 6x = 54). These two cytotypes were foundclearly separated by both genetic and phenotypic char-acteristics. Above-ground biomass, internode length,initial growth and number of spikelets per inflores-cence were the most variable traits. The high diversitypresent in this collection will allow for the initiationof a breeding programme for A. macrum. Fil: Ferrari Usandizaga, Silvana C.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina Fil: Brugnoli, Elsa Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); Argentina Fil: Weiss, Alejandra I.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina Fil: Zilli, Alex Leonel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); Argentina Fil: Schedler, M.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); Argentina Fil: Pagano, E. M.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina Fil: Martínez, Eric Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); Argentina Fil: Acuña, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); Argentina

Associação alta entre peso de massa seca e peso de massa verde pode facilitar a seleção antecipada de genótipos superiores de B. ruziziensis. Objetivou-se neste estudo verificar as associações entre características morfo-agronômicas na seleção de genótipos de B. ruziziensis. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos completos casualizados com duas repetições. Foram avaliadas as características altura e vigor das plantas, peso de massa verde e porcentagem de matéria seca da planta inteira, do caule e da folha, peso de massa seca da forragem total, de caule, e de folha e, relação entre produtividade de folha e caule de massa verde. As análises consistiram da estimação das correlações simples entre os caracteres e da análise de trilha considerando o peso de massa seca total como variável básica e as demais explicativas. Correlações mais elevadas foram observadas entre peso de massa seca e peso de massa verde, peso seco de caule e peso de massa verde e, peso seco de folhas e peso de massa verde. Pelos coeficientes de trilha, verificou-se que os efeitos diretos das diferentes variáveis explicativas sobre o peso de massa seca foram, em sua maioria, baixos. Os efeitos diretos mais relevantes sobre o peso de massa seca foram verificados via peso de massa verde, peso seco de caule e peso seco de folhas, indicando que o peso de massa verde viabiliza a seleção indireta para peso de massa seca. High association between fresh and dry mass weight can facilitate early selection of superior genotypes of B. ruziziensis R. Germ. & C.M. Evrard. The aim of this study was to verify the associations between traits in the selection of B. ruziziensis genotypes. The experiment was arranged in a complete randomized block design with two replications. The traits evaluated were height and vigor of plants; weight of fresh mass and percentage of dry matter of the whole plant, stem and leaf; dry mass weight of total herbage, stem, and leaf and the ratio between productivity of leaf and stem. Estimation of simple correlations and path analysis were performed considering the dry mass weight as the main variable. The correlations were mostly low, but significant higher correlations were observed between fresh mass weight and dry mass weight, dry weight of the stem and dry weight of leaves. The path coefficients showed that the direct effects of different explanatory variables on the dry mass weight were mostly low. More significant direct effects were obtained with fresh mass weight, stem dry weight and leaf dry weight, indicating that the fresh mass weight allows for the indirect selection for dry mass weight.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever o processo de embriogênese somática em Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu (Syn. Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) e fornecer subsídios para o aprimoramento dos métodos de cultura de tecidos e transformação genética. Calos embriogênicos foram obtidos por indução em embriões isolados de sementes maduras, e cultivados in vitro, em meio de cultura que continha ácido 2,4-diclorofenoxiacético, 6-benzilaminopurina e caseína hidrolisada. Plântulas foram regeneradas a partir dos calos embriogênicos, na presença de ácido naftalenoacético e cinetina. Esse processo foi descrito morfologicamente por observações em microscopia de luz de secções seriadas semifinas de tecidos fixados, ao longo do processo de regeneração, em FAA [formaldeído (40%): ácido acético glacial: etanol (50%), a 5:5:90 v/v/v]. Os embriões das sementes de U. brizantha cv. Marandu não têm epiblasto e são classificados como do tipo panicoide. Nas condições estabelecidas de cultura in vitro, calos embriogênicos e embriões somáticos de U. brizantha cv. Marandu, desenvolvem-se a partir de células meristemáticas do escutelo. The objective of this work was to describe the process of somatic embryogenesis in Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu (Syn. Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) and to provide support for the improvement of tissue culture and genetic transformation methods. Embryogenic calli were obtained by induction in embryos isolated from mature seeds, and cultivated in vitro in culture medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 6-benzylaminopurine and hydrolyzed casein. Plantlets were regenerated from the embryogenic calli in the presence of naphthaleneacetic acid and kinetin. This process was described by morphological observations of serial semithin sections of tissues fixed along the regeneration process in FAA (40% formaldehyde: acetic acid: 50% ethanol, at 5:5:90 v/v/v), using light microscopy. Seed embryos of U. brizantha cv. Marandu do not have epiblast and are classified as Panicum-type. Under in vitro culture conditions, embryogenic calli and somatic embryos of U. brizantha cv. Marandu develop from meristematic cells of the scutellum.

In order to assess the efficiency of breeding in ryegrass (Lolium perenne), we tested the agronomic performances of a set of diploid cultivars including turf and forage cultivars registered on European national lists from 1965 to 2004. Seven eco-types, originating from the main European climatic areas were also tested. Linear regressions fitting agronomic traits to the year of registration enabled to test the genetic improvement in turf and forage breeding through time. The genetic improvement in turf breeding was highly significant (p value of regression slope < 0.001) for most target traits (aesthetic aspect, disease resistance, wear tolerance, summer aspect, persistency). In forage breeding, the genetic improvement was highly significant (p value < 0.001) for autumn dry matter yield, rust resistance, and persistency, and was significant (p value < 0.05) for summer dry matter yield and reduction of aftermath heading. The rate of improvement of annual dry matter yield reached 0.29 ton per 10 years. Forage breeding was additionally associated with a highly significant decrease of lignin and crude protein content, and with a highly significant increase of soluble carbohydrate content. No significant change in grain production was noted either in forage or turf breeding, but conversely a large range of seed production was pointed out in both ancient and recent cultivars.