Abstract Reutemann, A. V.; E. J. Martínez, J. R. Daviña, D. H. Hojsgaard & A. I. Honfi. 2021. The karyotype of diploid and tetraploid Paspalum cromyorrhizon (Poaceae, Panicoideae, Paspaleae). Darwiniana, nueva serie 9(2): 375-386. Paspalum cromyorrhizon Trin. ex Döll is a species adapted to low and humid fields, river and stream banks, throughout S Brazil, Uruguay and NE Argentine. Diploids (2n = 2x = 20) and tetraploids (2n = 4x = 40) from natural populations of P. cromyorrhizon from Corrientes (Argentina) were used to analyse the karyotype morphometry of both cytotypes. The chromosome count was performed using classical Feulgen staining. The karyotype of diploid P. cromyorrhizon has 20 metacentric chromosomes, while the tetraploid has a karyotype of 40 metacentric chromosomes. The total length of the chromosomal complement in diploids is 32.5 μm and in tetraploids 63.5 μm, the total monoploid chromosome length is 15.48 μm in diploids and 15.21 μm in tetraploids and both karyotypes are symmetrical. Karyotype analysis confirms the autopolyploid origin proposed for tetraploids.

Resumen Reutemann, A.V.; E. J. Martínez, J. R. Daviña, D. H. Hojsgaard & A. I. Honfi. 2021. El cariotipo de Paspalum cromyorrhizon diploide y tetraploide (Poaceae, Panicoideae, Paspaleae). Darwiniana, nueva serie 9(2): 375-386. Paspalum cromyorrhizon Trin. ex Döll es una especie adaptada a los campos bajos y húmedos, márgenes de ríos y arroyos, en el S de Brasil, Uruguay y NE de Argentina. Se utilizaron individuos diploides (2n = 2x = 20) y tetraploides (2n = 4x = 40) provenientes de poblaciones naturales de P. cromyorrhizon de Corrientes (Argentina) para confeccionar un idiograma del cariotipo de ambos citotipos. El recuento cromosómico se realizó mediante tinción clásica de Feulgen. El citotipo diploide de P. cromyorrhizon presenta un cariotipo compuesto por 20 cromosomas metacéntricos, mientras que el citotipo tetraploide tiene un cariotipo compuesto por 40 cromosomas metacéntricos. La longitud total del complemento cromosómico en diploides es de 32,5 μm y en tetraploides de 63,5 μm, la longitud cromosómica total monoploide es de 15,48 μm en diploides y de 15,21 μm en tetraploides y ambos cariotipos resultaron simétricos. El análisis de los cariotipos confirma el origen autopoliploide propuesto para los tetraploides.

Abstract With ever-rising demand for food, forage breeding for intensification of cattle production is also taking a leap. In South America, cattle production systems are displaced to marginal areas poorly exploited with cultivated pastures yet with high potential for growing stocking rates. This places the need for using native genetic resources to breed locally adapted plant genotypes that benefits from better forage quality, yield, and lesser threat to the local biodiversity. Paspalum modestum Mez is a grass species that produces quality forage and grows in marginal areas like estuaries and floodplains, suitable for introduction in breeding programs. In this study we characterize the species' reproductive biology and ecological preferences needed beforehand any improvement. P. modestum plants found in nature are commonly diploids, rarely triploids, and tetraploids. Chromosome associations during meiosis in polyploids indicate they are autopolyploids. While diploids are sexual self-sterile, analyses of embryology, gamete fertility and experimental crossings show tetraploids are self-compatible facultative apomicts, highly fertile and have a high proportion of sexuality compared to other apomictic species. Ecological niche analysis and species distribution modelling show mean annual temperature and precipitation as main ecological drivers and a wide geographical area of climatic suitability where P. modestum can grow and be exploited as a forage grass. Our study points to P. modestum as a native plant resource appropriate for breeding waterlogging tolerant ecotypes and genotypes of high biomass production adapted to low flow areas in the Subtropics of Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.