Scientia Agricola (Jan 2003)
Morphological characterization and reproductive aspects in genetic variability studies of forage peanut
Abstract
Morphological characterization and the study of reproductive behavior are important procedures to identify desirable traits of progenitors to be included in breeding programs. Morphological descriptors and the reproductive behavior of parental accessions of the legumes Arachis pintoi Krapov & W.C.Gregory and A. repens Handro were analyzed looking for the probable causes of seed production variability. Morphological and reproductive characterization were used for the estimation of the genetic variability of five A. pintoi and two A. repens accessions, with crosses being conducted in a greenhouse. Parents and hybrids have shown high pollen stainability, regular meiosis (2n=20), and presented distinctive reproductive behaviors: A. pintoi accessions GK 12787, V 13468 and V 6791-wf are prolific seed producers, while A. pintoi V 13167, V 13338 and A. repens Nc 1579 and Nc 1578, rarely produce seeds. Intraspecific crosses generated fertile F1 and F2 hybrids from five combinations. Interspecific crosses produced sterile F1 hybrids. Stigma morphology and distinct mode of reproduction present among accessions suggest possible barriers for seed production in some cross-combinations. Euclidian distance range between parents was 0.20 to 5.52. Accessions GK 12787 and Nc 1579 presented the maximum distance: 5.52, and V 13468 and Nc 1579 the minimum distance: 0.20. The Euclidian distance was considered an adequate methodology to study genetic diversity of parental accessions.
