For many decades, animal production in southern Brazil has been based on native forage grasses. Paspalum notatum Flügge (bahiagrass) is one of the most frequently used native grass in southern Brazil. The native germplasm of P. notatum is tetraploid and displays apomictic reproduction; hence, chromosome doubling of sexual diploid accessions is required to facilitate hybridization. The main goal of this study was to evaluate forage production and other agronomical evaluation of P. notatum intraspecific hybrids in order to obtain new varieties that could be registered and/or protected and launched as new cultivars in the future. Three tetraploid sexual genotypes were crossed with the ecotypes Bagual and André da Rocha. Biomass production (leaf, stem, and inflorescence fractions), plant growth habit, plant height, number of tillers, and frost damage were evaluated in the resulting hybrids. The general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were calculated for the six families generated. We evaluated 196 hybrids and the most productive yielded 42 % more total dry mass than the most productive parent (ecotype Bagual), and Bagual production was seven-fold higher than that of cultivar 'Pensacola'. The highest GCA values were observed for Bagual and Q4205. No correlation was observed between leaf coloration and the frost effect or regrowth in the following winter.Similarly, no correlation between plant growth habit and dry mass production was observed. The reproduction mode of the most productive hybrids are currently being analyzed in larger plots to identify apomictic and sexual genotypes for future registration and protection.

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SUMMARY The Paspalum genus forms the natural pastures of the tropical and subtropical regions of America and includes several species of recognized forage potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different levels of nitrogen fertilization on the agronomic traits and nitrogen use efficiency in superior genotypes of Paspalum notatum Flügge. Four nitrogen fertilization levels (0, 60, 180 and 360 kg N ha-1) and nine genotypes were evaluated, six from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (30N, 36N, 48N, 70N, 83N and 95N), collected in South America, two native genotypes of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (André da Rocha and Bagual) and cv. Pensacola. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in a 4 x 9 factorial, with four field replications. From the variability of the responses found for the agronomic traits, the genotypes 48N, André da Rocha and Bagual are indicated to continue in the breeding program because they reach the maximum productive efficiencies according to the doses of N tested. The genotype 36N obtained the highest efficiency of nitrogen utilization, being biologically viable with the lowest N dose, equivalent of 60 kg of N ha-1.

-The aim of this study was to determine the mode of reproduction of a hybrid progeny derived from intraspecific crosses of Paspalum notatum through cytoembryological analysis and use of RAPD (random amplification of polymorphic DNA) molecular markers. Cytoembryological analysis allowed identification of the mode of reproduction of 28 plants that were selected after agronomic productivity evaluations. Of these, 19 had embryo sac morphology compatible with an apomictic mode of reproduction and nine had embryo sac morphology compatible with a sexual mode of reproduction. Meanwhile, molecular marker analysis for 194 individuals showed 54 sexual and 140 apomictic plants; of the 28 plants analyzed by the two methods, ten results (35.7%) were in disagreement. In this paper, through cytoembryological analyses, a ratio of 1:2.1 of sexual to apomictic plants was found. The BCU 243 marker showed a stable pattern of amplification, but some results differed with cytoembryological analyses, demonstrating that these analyses are more reliable when determining the mode of sexual reproduction for the plants of P. notatum. Apomictic plants characterized in this work can be tested in the field to check their agronomic value and registration as plant varieties, while the sexual plants can be used as potential parents in future crosses.

The rational use of N fertilization is essential to increase the recovery efficiency and crop productivity and decrease the cost of production. The objective of this study was to assess forage yield (TDM), tillers population density (TPD) and N use efficiency (NUE) in six Paspalum notatum Flüggé genotypes in response to N fertilization. The experimental design involved randomized blocks on a subdivided plot design. In 2014-2015 the TDM was higher for the C22 and B26 hybrids (P < 0.0001), which were similar to each other, with an average of 6173 kg DM ha-1 yr-1. In 2015-2016 the TDM of the genotypes ranging from 7053 to 13773 kg DM ha-1 yr-1 , for pastures fertilized with 0 and 480 kg N ha-1 yr-1 , respectively. An interaction was found between Genotype × N fertilization level (P = 0.0155) for TDM in 2016-2017. In the years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 the C22 hybrid standed out as the genotype with the highest tiller production in response to N fertilization. In the year 2014-2015 NUE was higher (P = 0.0015) in the N fertilization levels N60, being of 15.5 kg DM kg-1 N. In the years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 the NUE was higher at fertilization level N120 (P < 0.05), being of 21.1 and 31.5 kg DM kg-1 N, respectively. The C22 hybrid was distinct as the genotype with the highest DM yield and superior tillering characteristics. The N fertilization level of 120 kg N ha-1 yr-1 promoted greater NUE in all P. notatum genotypes.

Animal production in tropical and subtropical areas of the world is largely dependent on native or cultivated pastures, which requires higher production, quality and adaptation of forage plants (Jank, Valle, & Resende, 2011). Agronomic practices such as nutrient management and species selection or the combination of these two factors are some of the options for increasing dry matter yield (DMY) and forage nutritive value in pastures. Proper soil fertility management is required for efficient grass forage production. Nitrogen (N) has an effect on crop growth, development and physiological processes (Seepaul, Macoon, Reddy, & Evans, 2016), and supply of N fertilizer tends to improve yields and nutritive value in warm-season grasses (Obour,

Angelonia integerrima Sprengel is a native species of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul and the Southern region (Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul) of Brazil, with features such as an unusual appearance and color of the flowers, indicating an ornamental use. To optimize the use of this species and to fill in gaps regarding its cytogenetic characterization, this study determined the chromosome number, meiotic index and pollen viability of plant individuals of four A. integerrima populations. All plant individuals of the four populations had 2n = 20 chromosomes. Still, the meiotic index of most analyzed plant individuals exceeded 90%, while pollen viability of all plant individuals was higher than 80%. These data suggest considerable cytological stability of the analyzed A. integerrima plant individuals, which may favor the selection of future genotypes for commercial purposes or their use in conservation and breeding programs of the species.