ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of agronomic characteristics and tolerance to cold in apomictic Paspalum plicatulum x P. guenoarum hybrids, and estimate their phenotypic correlations in two different regions of soil and climate. The study was conducted at different locations and evaluated in different years, in a randomised block design with three replications. Four interspecific hybrids of Paspalum and two genotypes of P. guenoarum were evaluated, with the Aruana cultivar (Panicum maximum) used as a control. The H12, H13, H20 and H22 hybrids proved to be superior in tolerance for cold and the agronomic traits evaluated relative to the Rojas and Aruana cultivars and the Azulão ecotype, and are suitable for new stages of assessment, such as estimates of seed production and studies of DHS and VCU, with a view to their release as new cultivars. Estimates of phenotypic correlations are important tools in progeny selection, especially the characteristic of LDM, which showed a high positive correlation with the characteristics TDM, PDP, regrowth and height, demonstrating that carrying out morphological separation is unnecessary, saving time and labour in a forage breeding program.
Key words:
Apomixis; Hybridization; Paspalum guenoarum; Paspalum plicatulum; Forage production