Sorghum has been improved by plant breeders for yield, biotic and abiotic stress resistance, as well as quality traits by using germplasm from within the species. Interspecific hybridization can greatly increase the amount of genetic variation available to plant breeders for improvement. Interspecific hybrids between sorghum and the 19 species in the tertiary gene pool have, until recently, not been successful. The Australian species, S. macrospermum, was recently successfully hybridized with sorghum by using germplasm homozygous for the iap allele, which eliminated reproductive isolation barriers. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the potential for use of S. macrospermum in an introgression breeding program, determine the map position of the Iap locus, and backcross the iap allele into elite Texas A&M germplasm. Interspecific hybrids between S. bicolor and S. macrospermum revealed moderate levels (2.6 II per PMC) of allosyndetic recombination, indicating that introgression through genetic recombination is possible. Genomic relationships were sufficient to assign S. macrospermum the genomic formula AAB1B1YYZZ, Y and Z remain unknown. In backcrosses to S. bicolor using the female interspecific hybrid gamete and embryo rescue, BC1F1 plants were recovered. They had high chromosome numbers (2n = 35-70) and were male-sterile but three plants set backcross seed. Ninety-five percent of BC2F1 plants were 2n = 20 chromosomes and 75% of them contained S. macrospermum introgression. BC2F1 plants carried between 0-18.5% S. macrospermum introgression; in total 26% of the S. macrospermum genome was detected in the BC2 generation. Three types of introgression germplasm were created: alien addition lines; alien substitution lines; and introgression lines. Recombinant chromosomes, containing S. macrospermum introgression sites, were identified in multiple introgression lines. The Iap locus was genetically mapped to sorghum chromosome 2 (SBI-02), flanking AFLP markers were 2.1 and 2.7cM away, one AFLP marker shared the same map position (0.0cM). A genetic stock, Tx3361, was created which has iap iap genotype and improved agronomic qualities such as short plant height, white seed color, non-pigmented testa, no awns, reduced lodging, early maturity, and backcross segregation of male-sterility (ms3). This research shows that S. macrospermum is now available to plant breeders for sorghum improvement.

Sorghum has been improved by plant breeders for yield, biotic and abiotic stress resistance, as well as quality traits by using germplasm from within the species. Interspecific hybridization can greatly increase the amount of genetic variation available to plant breeders for improvement. Interspecific hybrids between sorghum and the 19 species in the tertiary gene pool have, until recently, not been successful. The Australian species, S. macrospermum, was recently successfully hybridized with sorghum by using germplasm homozygous for the iap allele, which eliminated reproductive isolation barriers. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the potential for use of S. macrospermum in an introgression breeding program, determine the map position of the Iap locus, and backcross the iap allele into elite Texas A&M germplasm. Interspecific hybrids between S. bicolor and S. macrospermum revealed moderate levels (2.6 II per PMC) of allosyndetic recombination, indicating that introgression through genetic recombination is possible. Genomic relationships were sufficient to assign S. macrospermum the genomic formula AAB1B1YYZZ, Y and Z remain unknown. In backcrosses to S. bicolor using the female interspecific hybrid gamete and embryo rescue, BC1F1 plants were recovered. They had high chromosome numbers (2n = 35-70) and were male-sterile but three plants set backcross seed. Ninety-five percent of BC2F1 plants were 2n = 20 chromosomes and 75% of them contained S. macrospermum introgression. BC2F1 plants carried between 0-18.5% S. macrospermum introgression; in total 26% of the S. macrospermum genome was detected in the BC2 generation. Three types of introgression germplasm were created: alien addition lines; alien substitution lines; and introgression lines. Recombinant chromosomes, containing S. macrospermum introgression sites, were identified in multiple introgression lines. The Iap locus was genetically mapped to sorghum chromosome 2 (SBI-02), flanking AFLP markers were 2.1 and 2.7cM away, one AFLP marker shared the same map position (0.0cM). A genetic stock, Tx3361, was created which has iap iap genotype and improved agronomic qualities such as short plant height, white seed color, non-pigmented testa, no awns, reduced lodging, early maturity, and backcross segregation of male-sterility (ms3). This research shows that S. macrospermum is now available to plant breeders for sorghum improvement.

As espécies do gênero Paspalum destacam-se pela maior resistência ao frio, produção e qualidade de forragem, quando comparados a outras gramíneas estivais nativas do Rio Grande do Sul. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho de híbridos interespecíficos de Paspalum, em relação à produção de forragem nos municípios de Eldorado do Sul e Coronel Barros e tolerância ao frio em Eldorado do Sul. “Foram avaliados os híbridos: “140”, “131”, ‘138”, “129”, “78”, “176”, “142”, “208”, “165”, “172”, “197”, “329”, “491”, “89”, “162” originados pelo cruzamento de P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. lepton; juntamente os híbridos: “1” e “44”, cruzamento de P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecótipo “Azulão”; e os híbridos “43”, “31”, “90”, cruzamento de P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecótipo “Azulão”; ou P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecótipo “Baio”; ou P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. lepton, respectivamente. A cultivar Aruana (Panicum maximum) foi utilizada como testemunha. O delineamento utilizado foi de blocos casualizados com três repetições. As avaliações foram realizadas por meio de cortes, totalizando sete cortes. A variável massa seca de folhas foi a que apresentou maior correlação com a massa seca total. Ao selecionar os híbridos com maior massa seca total também estão sendo selecionadas as plantas de maior altura e diâmetro. Os híbridos apomíticos “129”, “138”, “208”, “329”, híbridos sexuais “78” e “165” e o híbrido “1” (modo de reprodução não determinado) apresentaram ao longo das avaliações altas produções de massa seca total e massa seca de folhas e em alguns cortes se destacaram, sendo superiores aos seus progenitores. Portanto foram selecionados para seguir no programa de melhoramento visando à obtenção de cultivares mais adaptadas às nossas condições de clima sub-tropical. / The genus Paspalum species stand out for the highest resistance to cold, production and forage quality compared to other native summer grasses of Rio Grande do Sul. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of interspecific hybrids of Paspalum in relation to the production of forage in Eldorado do Sul and Coronel Barros cities and cold tolerance in Eldorado do Sul. They were evaluated hybrids "140", "131", "138", "129", "78", " 176 ","142”, "208 "," 165 "," 172 "," 197 "," 329 "," 491 "," 89 "," 162 " originated by crossing P.plicatulum (4c-4X) x P. lepton; and hybrids, "1" and "44", crossing P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecotype "Azulão"; and hybrid "43", "31", "90", crossing P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecotype "Azulão"; or P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecotype "Baio"; or P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. lepton, respectively. Cultivar Aruana of Panicum maximum was used as control. The design was a randomized block with three replications. The evaluations were made through cuts, totaling seven cuts. The variable dry mass of leaves showed the highest correlation with total dry matter. When selecting hybrids with higher total dry matter are also being selected plants of greater height and diameter. The apomictic hybrids "129", "138", "208", "329", sexual hybrids "78" and "165" and the hybrid "1" (mode of reproduction not determined) presented during the evaluations high productions of total dry mass and dry mass of leaves, and in some cuts stood out and were higher than their parents. So, they were selected to follow in the breeding program aimed at getting cultivars more adapted to sub-tropical conditions.

As espécies do gênero Paspalum destacam-se pela maior resistência ao frio, produção e qualidade de forragem, quando comparados a outras gramíneas estivais nativas do Rio Grande do Sul. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho de híbridos interespecíficos de Paspalum, em relação à produção de forragem nos municípios de Eldorado do Sul e Coronel Barros e tolerância ao frio em Eldorado do Sul. “Foram avaliados os híbridos: “140”, “131”, ‘138”, “129”, “78”, “176”, “142”, “208”, “165”, “172”, “197”, “329”, “491”, “89”, “162” originados pelo cruzamento de P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. lepton; juntamente os híbridos: “1” e “44”, cruzamento de P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecótipo “Azulão”; e os híbridos “43”, “31”, “90”, cruzamento de P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecótipo “Azulão”; ou P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecótipo “Baio”; ou P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. lepton, respectivamente. A cultivar Aruana (Panicum maximum) foi utilizada como testemunha. O delineamento utilizado foi de blocos casualizados com três repetições. As avaliações foram realizadas por meio de cortes, totalizando sete cortes. A variável massa seca de folhas foi a que apresentou maior correlação com a massa seca total. Ao selecionar os híbridos com maior massa seca total também estão sendo selecionadas as plantas de maior altura e diâmetro. Os híbridos apomíticos “129”, “138”, “208”, “329”, híbridos sexuais “78” e “165” e o híbrido “1” (modo de reprodução não determinado) apresentaram ao longo das avaliações altas produções de massa seca total e massa seca de folhas e em alguns cortes se destacaram, sendo superiores aos seus progenitores. Portanto foram selecionados para seguir no programa de melhoramento visando à obtenção de cultivares mais adaptadas às nossas condições de clima sub-tropical. / The genus Paspalum species stand out for the highest resistance to cold, production and forage quality compared to other native summer grasses of Rio Grande do Sul. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of interspecific hybrids of Paspalum in relation to the production of forage in Eldorado do Sul and Coronel Barros cities and cold tolerance in Eldorado do Sul. They were evaluated hybrids "140", "131", "138", "129", "78", " 176 ","142”, "208 "," 165 "," 172 "," 197 "," 329 "," 491 "," 89 "," 162 " originated by crossing P.plicatulum (4c-4X) x P. lepton; and hybrids, "1" and "44", crossing P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecotype "Azulão"; and hybrid "43", "31", "90", crossing P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecotype "Azulão"; or P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecotype "Baio"; or P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. lepton, respectively. Cultivar Aruana of Panicum maximum was used as control. The design was a randomized block with three replications. The evaluations were made through cuts, totaling seven cuts. The variable dry mass of leaves showed the highest correlation with total dry matter. When selecting hybrids with higher total dry matter are also being selected plants of greater height and diameter. The apomictic hybrids "129", "138", "208", "329", sexual hybrids "78" and "165" and the hybrid "1" (mode of reproduction not determined) presented during the evaluations high productions of total dry mass and dry mass of leaves, and in some cuts stood out and were higher than their parents. So, they were selected to follow in the breeding program aimed at getting cultivars more adapted to sub-tropical conditions.

As espécies do gênero Paspalum destacam-se pela maior resistência ao frio, produção e qualidade de forragem, quando comparados a outras gramíneas estivais nativas do Rio Grande do Sul. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho de híbridos interespecíficos de Paspalum, em relação à produção de forragem nos municípios de Eldorado do Sul e Coronel Barros e tolerância ao frio em Eldorado do Sul. “Foram avaliados os híbridos: “140”, “131”, ‘138”, “129”, “78”, “176”, “142”, “208”, “165”, “172”, “197”, “329”, “491”, “89”, “162” originados pelo cruzamento de P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. lepton; juntamente os híbridos: “1” e “44”, cruzamento de P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecótipo “Azulão”; e os híbridos “43”, “31”, “90”, cruzamento de P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecótipo “Azulão”; ou P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecótipo “Baio”; ou P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. lepton, respectivamente. A cultivar Aruana (Panicum maximum) foi utilizada como testemunha. O delineamento utilizado foi de blocos casualizados com três repetições. As avaliações foram realizadas por meio de cortes, totalizando sete cortes. A variável massa seca de folhas foi a que apresentou maior correlação com a massa seca total. Ao selecionar os híbridos com maior massa seca total também estão sendo selecionadas as plantas de maior altura e diâmetro. Os híbridos apomíticos “129”, “138”, “208”, “329”, híbridos sexuais “78” e “165” e o híbrido “1” (modo de reprodução não determinado) apresentaram ao longo das avaliações altas produções de massa seca total e massa seca de folhas e em alguns cortes se destacaram, sendo superiores aos seus progenitores. Portanto foram selecionados para seguir no programa de melhoramento visando à obtenção de cultivares mais adaptadas às nossas condições de clima sub-tropical. / The genus Paspalum species stand out for the highest resistance to cold, production and forage quality compared to other native summer grasses of Rio Grande do Sul. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of interspecific hybrids of Paspalum in relation to the production of forage in Eldorado do Sul and Coronel Barros cities and cold tolerance in Eldorado do Sul. They were evaluated hybrids "140", "131", "138", "129", "78", " 176 ","142”, "208 "," 165 "," 172 "," 197 "," 329 "," 491 "," 89 "," 162 " originated by crossing P.plicatulum (4c-4X) x P. lepton; and hybrids, "1" and "44", crossing P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecotype "Azulão"; and hybrid "43", "31", "90", crossing P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecotype "Azulão"; or P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. guenoarum ecotype "Baio"; or P. plicatulum (4c-4x) x P. lepton, respectively. Cultivar Aruana of Panicum maximum was used as control. The design was a randomized block with three replications. The evaluations were made through cuts, totaling seven cuts. The variable dry mass of leaves showed the highest correlation with total dry matter. When selecting hybrids with higher total dry matter are also being selected plants of greater height and diameter. The apomictic hybrids "129", "138", "208", "329", sexual hybrids "78" and "165" and the hybrid "1" (mode of reproduction not determined) presented during the evaluations high productions of total dry mass and dry mass of leaves, and in some cuts stood out and were higher than their parents. So, they were selected to follow in the breeding program aimed at getting cultivars more adapted to sub-tropical conditions.