Agronomic performance and interspecific hybrids selection of the genus Paspalum.

The objective of the study was to analyze the genetic variability at agronomic and molecular level of apomic­tic genotypes of the genus Paspalum obtained by interspecific crosses of Paspalum plicatulum (sexual famale genitor) and Paspalum guenoarum (apomictic male genitor) to predict promising combinations with the sexual genitor using characters related to forage production. The study was conducted in two environ­ments in 2010 and 2011 in Eldorado do Sul and Augusto Pestana, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The experiment followed a randomized block design with four replicates at both locations. Seven interspecific hybrids, the two genitors (sexual "4c-4x" P. plicatulum and apomictic cultivate "Rojas" P. guenoarum ) and two native genotypes of Paspalum guenoarum and cultivate Pensacola of P. notatum were used. Analysis done inagronomic and molecular levels were able to detect genetic variability among interspecific hybrids of Paspalum . Moreover, the results suggested that the hybrids H12, H13 and H20 are recommended for further hybridizations with female sexual parent obtaining elite recombinant. Additional keywords: apomixes; forage species; genetic variability; plant breeding.