Evaluation and strategies of tolerance to water stress in <i>Paspalum</i> germplasm

• Main Authors: Cristiana de G. Pezzopane, Arthur G. Lima, Pedro G. da Cruz, Tatiane Beloni, Alessandra P. Fávero, Patrícia M. Santos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical 2017-09-01
• Series: Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales
• Online Access: http://tropicalgrasslands.info/index.php/tgft/article/view/352

<p>The evaluation of genetic resources in germplasm banks of <em>Paspalum</em> can contribute to their use in breeding programs and for advanced research in biotechnology. This study evaluated the tolerance of 11 <em>Paspalum</em> accessions to abiotic stress caused by soil water deficit in a greenhouse experiment at Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste, São Carlos, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The variables analyzed were: dry biomass of green matter, dead matter and roots; leaf area; leaf water potential; number of days to lose leaf turgor (wilting); soil moisture at wilting; and number of tillers per pot. The results showed high genetic variability for all traits, not only among species but also within species, and also reflected the existence of different strategies of response and potential adaptation to water deficit events. For breeding programs, when the aim is to produce materials better adapted to the occurrence of prolonged drought, 5 accessions from this group seem to have good potential: <em>P. malacophyllum</em> BGP 289, <em>P. quarinii</em> BGP 229, <em>P. regnellii</em> BGP 112, <em>P. conspersum</em> BGP 402 and <em>P. urvillei </em>x<em> P. dilatatum</em> BGP 238. Conversely, when the goal is to select materials for short-term water stress conditions, 6 accessions stand out: <em>P. atratum</em> BGP 308, <em>P. regnellii</em> BGP 215, 248 and 397, <em>P. dilatatum</em> BGP 234 and <em>P. malacophyllum</em> BGP 293.</p>