Caracterização morfofisiológica de genótipos de Urochloa mosambicensis como subsídio para programas de melhoramento vegetal

Abstract

Thirteen genotypes of Urochloa mosambicensis were characterized for morphogenic indices and evaluated for characteristics and structural components of each genotype. The accessions were exchanged from the active germplasm bank in seedlings and transplanted into pots. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse from February to December 2014 in a randomized design with two repetitions (pots). Biomass flow was estimated during the regrowth period and thereupon it was measured the structural characteristics and components of biomass. Data were subjected to the Shapiro-Wilk and Bartlett tests, and it was applied base 10 logarithmic transformations for variables leaf elongation rate and previous leaf senescence rate. Mean values of biomass flow were tested by Tukey’s test and structural characteristics were tested by Kruskal-Wallis test, differences were considered significant at P <0.05. From the characterization, we selected the most important variables in the selection of genotypes and stood out Aust81 and Aust99P1 genotypes that were considered as the most productive to use grazing because of the highest average for the leaf elongation rate, leaf appearance rate and new green leaves. The Aust103 and Aust59P1 were considered as the most productive for use to cut, as they kept the lowest stem elongation rate and the higher total forage biomass and green leaf biomass, which is the most important component of biomass and preferably selected by the animals, reflecting positively on forage quality. With the exception of Aust99P1, all the genotypes above had the highest leaf:stem ratio, stressing that it accesses produced forage of better quality and probably the best nutritional value. The accession Aust59P1 was the most persistent genotype as it maintained the highest average for tillering that has great potential for the issuance of new tillers ensuring the pasture persistence. Considering all characteristics, it is recommended to further study the accessions Aust81, Aust103, Aust59P1 and Aust99P1.