Characteristics of Selected Genotypes of Brachiaria for Brazilian Pastures

Brachiaria is a grass genus of African origin. Some genotypes have shown good adaptation to poor, acid soils and now cover millions of hectares of pastures in tropical America. In an effort to increase diversity for selection, CIAT led collection expeditions to East Africa and later distributed this germplasm to collaborating institutions. Agronomical evaluation of a Brachiaria collection of broad genetic base was conducted at EMBRAPA/CNPGC with the objective of selecting potential new cultivars. Multivariate analysis was used to classify 193 accessions of nine different species into 8 groups using annual and seasonal production, leaf:stem ratio and regrowth characteristics. Resistance to spittlebug was evaluated under controlled conditions and monitored in the field. The evaluation resulted in the selection of 19 genotypes with superior agronomic characteristics. B. brizantha accessions BRA 003361, 003204 and 003395 combine good overall production with spittlebug resistance, important prerequisites for potential new cultivars