Genomics of Paspalum notatum (bahiagrass): genetic diversity and molecular markers for breeding

• Grant number: 24/05685-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Pastures and Forage Crops
• Principal Investigator: Bianca Baccili Zanotto Vigna
• Grantee: Bianca Baccili Zanotto Vigna
• Host Institution: Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alessandra Pereira Fávero ; Ana Luisa Sousa Azevedo ; André Pich Brunes ; Anete Pereira de Souza ; Antonio Augusto Franco Garcia ; Carine Simioni ; Carlos Alberto Acuna ; Cleber Henrique Lopes de Souza ; Eric Javier Martínez ; Esteban Fernando Rios ; Frederico de Pina Matta ; Jennifer Mandel ; Kevin Eugene Kenworthy ; Marcelo Mattos Cavallari ; Marco Aurélio Caldas de Pinho Pessoa Filho ; Marcos Rafael Gusmão ; Mauricio de Alvarenga Mudadu ; Maurício Marini Kopp ; Miguel Dall Agnol ; Roberto Luis Weiler

Abstract

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) is one of the most used species as lawns in Brazil and an important native forage in the south of the country, in addition to being widely cultivated in South America and the south of the United States. Although the species presents great genetic diversity in Brazil with potential for expansion of cultivation, many materials have not undergone breeding process and there are still few cultivars released. Furthermore, limitations related to seeds, such as a high percentage of losses due to decay, a high percentage of dormancy and slow and uneven germination, can limit their use by producers as well as their commercial exploitation on a larger scale. In this sense, Brazilian and foreign breeding programs have been seeking more productive genotypes for forage or low maintenance genotypes for lawns, however, to date, few genomic resources are available for this species for the implementation of marker-assisted selection and genomic selection. The diploid genome of P. notatum has 2n=20 chromosomes and an estimated size of 600 Mb, and there are also tetraploid cytotypes for the species, which reproduce by apomixis, an important characteristic for breeding as it determines the adoption of specific breeding methods. This research proposal aims to characterize a broad set of SNP variants and estimate the genetic diversity of the germplasm and working collections of the main genetic breeding programs for the species in the world, in addition to identifying genomic regions associated with seed decay, dormancy and seed germination speed using genome-wide association. The results obtained will make genomic tools available for cultivation and for boosting bahiagrass breeding programs, in addition to contributing to boosting knowledge of this important species for the State of São Paulo, as well as for tropical and subtropical forage and grass farming. Carrying out this research project will also allow collaboration among groups with different expertises to unite them in a complementary way and form a research network in Paspalum notatum genomics whose interaction generates positive impacts on the species' genetic breeding programs and on the scientific production of the groups involved. (AU)