Genetic and molecular studies in the genus Paspalum L. (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae)

Author(s)

Fernanda Witt Cidade

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia
• Defense date: 2011-05-27

Examining board members

Anete Pereira de Souza; Cacilda Borges do Valle; Rodolfo Godoy; Eliana Regina Forni Martins; Sérgio Furtado dos Reis

• Advisor: Anete Pereira de Souza

Abstract

In Brazil, the production of cattle is based primarily on the use of pastures for animal feed, most of these cultivated. The release of new cultivars of forage and advances in pasture management has enabled Brazil to become currently one of the largest producers of cattle and the largest exporter of beef in the world. However, few options are available for fodder cultivation of pastures in Brazil, mainly in tropical regions, where most of these consists of a few varieties of African grasses of the genus Urochloa (Syn. Brachiaria). There is a clear need to diversify pastures and the genus Paspalum stands out among the native grasses with forage potential to contribute to the diversification of species in tropical pastures. Paspalum includes about 400 species distributed mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Brazil is the largest center of origin and diversity of this genus, with the occurrence of species of high forage yield potential, and several accessions available in germplasm banks. In order to make good use of the existing germplasm collections for breeding purposes it is necessary to know the quantity and distribution of genetic diversity of these collections. In that sense, in the present work, microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized in two species of Paspalum (P. notatum and P. atratum). These markers were used as a tool to study genetic diversity of germplasm banks of Paspalum. A total of 21 microsatellites was developed for P. atratum and 26 for P. notatum. The transferability of these markers was evaluated for 35 species of Paspalum, in which twelve microsatellites were used to characterize 214 accessions of different species of Paspalum. The microsatellites were useful in identifying the species of Paspalum, effectively assisting in the organization of accessions maintained in germplasm banks, as well as providing subsidies to breeding programs of the genus. Additionally, 57 accessions of P. notatum were evaluated using 30 microsatellites, together with phenotypic and cytogenetic characteristic. Most of these loci showed a great potential for cultivar and accessions discrimination. Joint evaluations indicated that the microsatellites were efficient and robust in the separation of the accessions evaluated in to seven genetically distinct groups, which corresponded to the three botanical varidades described for the species (var.notatum, var. sourae, and var. latiflorum). Microsatellites developed, as well as data of genetic diversity generated in this work are a step toward a better understanding of the genus and a tool for further work (AU)