Using simulation models to investigate the cumulative effects of sowing rate, sowing date and cultivar choice on weed competition

With the increasing pressure on crop production from the evolution of herbicide resistance, farmers are increasingly adopting Integrated Weed Management (IWM) strategies to augment their weed control. These include measures to increase the competitiveness of the crop canopy such as increased sowing rate and the use of more competitive cultivars. While there are data on the relative impact of these non-chemical weed control methods assessed in isolation, there is uncertainty about their combined contribution, which may be hindering their adoption. In this article, the INTERCOM simulation model of crop / weed competition was used to examine the combined impact of crop density, sowing date and cultivar choice on the outcomes of competition between wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Alopecurus myosuroides. Alopecurus myosuroides is a problematic weed of cereal crops in North-Western Europe and the primary target for IWM in the UK because it has evolved resistance to a range of herbicides. The model was parameterised for two cultivars with contrasting competitive ability, and simulations run across 10 years at different crop densities and two sowing dates. The results suggest that sowing date, sowing density and cultivar choice largely work in a complementary fashion, allowing enhanced competitive ability against weeds when used in combination. However, the relative benefit of choosing a more competitive cultivar decreases at later sowing dates and higher crop densities. Modelling approaches could be further employed to examine the effectiveness of IWM, reducing the need for more expensive and cumbersome long-term in situ experimentation.

Production systems - An example from Brazil

Important information about the Brazilian agribusiness, population and economy are presented in this paper, as well as details of beef production, market, industry and production system, to inform people involved in meat industry about details on demography, production, economy and production systems of a country that is the largest player in beef exports in the world and that uses, mostly, Bos indicus based bovine population, reared under pasture conditions, for meat production purposes. Herd size, genetic evaluation programs, quantity of beef produced and market is informed, with figures about the global and major players` production. Some discussion related to environmental concerns, methane emission and carbon fixation is also presented, as well as meat quality. Meat quality of fed animals is also compared with beef from animals that are raised in pasture conditions. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The numbers of sample design for evaluation of the soil fertility

The determination of the amount of sample units that will compose the sample express the optimization of the workforce, and reduce errors inherent in the report of recommendation and evaluation of soil fertility. This study aimed to determine in three systems use and soil management, the numbers of units samples design, needed to form the composed sample, for evaluation of soil fertility. It was concluded that the number of sample units needed to compose the composed sample to determination the attributes of organic matter, pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, Al and H+Al and base saturation of soil vary by use and soil management and error acceptable to the mean estimate. For the same depth of collected, increasing the number of sample units, reduced the percentage error in estimating the average, allowing the recommendation of 14, 14 and 11 sample in management with native vegetation, pasture cultivation and corn, respectively, for a error 20% on the mean estimate.

Forest structure in a mosaic of rainforest sites: The effect of fragmentation and recovery after clear cut

A variety of human-induced disturbances such as forest fragmentation and recovery after deforestation for pasture or agricultural activities have resulted in a complex landscape mosaic in the Una region of northeastern Brazil. Using a set of vegetation descriptors, we investigated the main structural changes observed in forest categories that comprise the major components of the regional landscape and searched for potential key descriptors that could be used to discriminate among different forest categories. We assessed the forest structure of five habitat categories defined as (I) interiors and (2) edges of large fragments of old-growth forest (>1000 ha), (3) interiors and (4) edges of small forest fragments (<100 ha), and (5) early secondary forests. Forest descriptors used here were: frequency of herbaceous lianas and woody climbers, number of standing dead trees, number of fallen trunks, litter depth, number of pioneer plants (early secondary and shade-intolerant species), vertical foliage stratification profile and distribution Of trees in different diameter classes. Edges and interiors of forest fragments were significantly different only in the number of standing dead trees. Secondary forests and edges of fragments showed differences in litter depth, fallen trunks and number of pioneer trees, and secondary forests were significantly different from fragment interiors in the number of standing dead trees and the number of pioneer trees. Horizontal and vertical structure evaluated via ordination analysis showed that fragment interiors, compared to secondary forests, were characterized by a greater number of medium (25-35 cm) and large (35-50 cm) trees and smaller numbers of thin trees (5-10 cm). There was great heterogeneity at the edges of small and large fragments, as these sites were distributed along almost the entire gradient. Most interiors of large and small fragments presented higher values of foliage densities at higher strata ( 15-20 m and at 20-25 m height), and lower densities at 1-5 m. All secondary forests and some fragment edge sites showed an opposite tendency. A discriminant function highlighted differences among forest categories, with transects of large fragment interiors and secondary forests representing two extremes along a disturbance gradient determined by foliage structure (densities at 15-20 m and 20-25 m), with the edges of both large and small fragments and the interiors of small fragments scattered across the gradient. The major underlying processes determining patterns of forest disturbance in the study region are discussed, highlighting the importance of forest fragments, independently of its size, as forests recovery after clear cut show a greatly distinct structure, with profound implications on fauna movements. (C) 2009 Elsevier BY. All rights reserved.

Can agroforest woodlots work as stepping stones for birds in the Atlantic forest region?

In fragmented landscapes, agroforest woodlots can potentially act as stepping stones facilitating movement between forest fragments. We assessed the influence of agroforest woodlots on bird distribution and diversity in the Atlantic forest region (SE Brazil), and also tested which categories of species can use different types of connection elements, and whether this use is influenced by the distance to large forest patches. We studied two fragmented landscapes, with and without stepping stones linking large fragments, and one forested landscape. Using a point count, a bird survey was undertaken in the fragmented landscapes in five different elements: large remnants (> 400 ha), agroforest woodlots (0.4-1.1 ha), small patches (0.5-7 ha), riparian corridor, and pasture areas (the main matrix). Generalist and open-area species were commonly observed in the agroforest system or other connection elements, whereas only a few forest species were present in these connections. For the latter species, the distance of woodlots to large patches was essential to determine their richness and abundance. Based on our results and data from literature, we suggest that there is an optimal relationship between the permeability of the matrix and the efficiency of stepping stones, which occurs at intermediate degrees of matrix resistance, and is species-dependent. Because the presence of agroforest system favors a higher richness of generalist species, they appeared to be more advantageous for conservation than the monoculture system; for this reason, they should be considered as a management alternative, particularly when the matrix permeability requirement is met.

Frugivory by phyllostomid bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in a restored area in Southeast Brazil

We studied the potential contribution of frugivorous bats to the reestablishment of vegetational diversity in a restored area. We analysed the diets of the bat species and the differences between them in the consumption of fruits of autochtonous and allochthonous species. Planted (autochtonous) species were the basis of diets, especially Solanum mauritianum and Cecropia pachystachya, whereas for allochthonous species we found that Piperaceae to be of particular importance. Carollia perspicillata was the main seed disperser for allochthonous species, and potentially the most important bat in the promotion of vegetation diversity in the study area. Our results suggest that frugivorous bats are especially important in the reestablishment of vegetation in disturbed areas, and that restorarion efforts should focus on the planting of different zoochorous species that would guarantee a high year-round fruit production, thereby facilitating natural plant reestablishment by frugivorous bats in regenerating areas. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Aerosol inorganic composition at a tropical site: Discrepancies between filter-based sampling and a semi-continuous method

The concentrations of the water-soluble inorganic aerosol species, ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), chloride (Cl-), and sulfate (SO42-), were measured from September to November 2002 at a pasture site in the Amazon Basin (Rondnia, Brazil) (LBA-SMOCC). Measurements were conducted using a semi-continuous technique (Wet-annular denuder/Steam-Jet Aerosol Collector: WAD/SJAC) and three integrating filter-based methods, namely (1) a denuder-filter pack (DFP: Teflon and impregnated Whatman filters), (2) a stacked-filter unit (SFU: polycarbonate filters), and (3) a High Volume dichotomous sampler (HiVol: quartz fiber filters). Measurements covered the late dry season (biomass burning), a transition period, and the onset of the wet season (clean conditions). Analyses of the particles collected on filters were performed using ion chromatography (IC) and Particle-Induced X-ray Emission spectrometry (PIXE). Season-dependent discrepancies were observed between the WAD/SJAC system and the filter-based samplers. During the dry season, when PM2.5 (D-p <= 2.5 mu m) concentrations were similar to 100 mu g m(-3), aerosol NH4+ and SO42- measured by the filter-based samplers were on average two times higher than those determined by the WAD/SJAC. Concentrations of aerosol NO3- and Cl- measured with the HiVol during daytime, and with the DFP during day- and nighttime also exceeded those of the WAD/SJAC by a factor of two. In contrast, aerosol NO3- and Cl- measured with the SFU during the dry season were nearly two times lower than those measured by the WAD/SJAC. These differences declined markedly during the transition period and towards the cleaner conditions during the onset of the wet season (PM2.5 similar to 5 mu g m(-3)); when filter-based samplers measured on average 40-90% less than the WAD/SJAC. The differences were not due to consistent systematic biases of the analytical techniques, but were apparently a result of prevailing environmental conditions and different sampling procedures. For the transition period and wet season, the significance of our results is reduced by a low number of data points. We argue that the observed differences are mainly attributable to (a) positive and negative filter sampling artifacts, (b) presence of organic compounds and organosulfates on filter substrates, and (c) a SJAC sampling efficiency of less than 100%.

Preparation of Achiral and Chiral (E)-Enaminopyran-2,4-diones and Their Phytotoxic Activity

A short and efficient approach to a range of new chiral and achiral functionalized (E)-enaminopyran-2,4-diones starting with commercially available dehydroacetic acid is described. The phytotoxic properties of these (E)-enaminopyran-2,4-diones were evaluated by their ability to interfere with the growth of Sorghum bicolor and Cucumis sativus seedlings. A different sensitivity of the two crops was evident with the (E)-enaminopyran-2,4-diones. The most active compounds were also tested against two weeds, Ipomoea grandifolia and Brachiaria decumbens. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing enaminopyran-2,4-diones as potential plant growth regulators.

Utveckling av metod för att bedöma behovet av ogräsbekämpning i spår

A system for weed management on railway embankments that is both adapted to the environment and efficient in terms of resources requires knowledge and understanding about the growing conditions of vegetation so that methods to control its growth can be adapted accordingly. Automated records could complement present-day manual inspections and over time come to replace these. One challenge is to devise a method that will result in a reasonable breakdown of gathered information that can be managed rationally by affected parties and, at the same time, serve as a basis for decisions with sufficient precision. The project examined two automated methods that may be useful for the Swedish Transport Administration in the future: 1) A machine vision method, which makes use of camera sensors as a way of sensing the environment in the visible and near infrared spectrum; and 2) An N-Sensor method, which transmits light within an area that is reflected by the chlorophyll in the plants. The amount of chlorophyll provides a value that can be correlated with the biomass. The choice of technique depends on how the information is to be used. If the purpose is to form a general picture of the growth of vegetation on railway embankments as a way to plan for maintenance measures, then the N-Sensor technique may be the right choice. If the plan is to form a general picture as well as monitor and survey current and exact vegetation status on the surface over time as a way to fight specific vegetation with the correct means, then the machine vision method is the better of the two. Both techniques involve registering data using GPS positioning. In the future, it will be possible to store this information in databases that are directly accessible to stakeholders online during or in conjunction with measures to deal with the vegetation. The two techniques were compared with manual (visual) estimations as to the levels of vegetation growth. The observers (raters) visual estimation of weed coverage (%) differed statistically from person to person. In terms of estimating the frequency (number) of woody plants (trees and bushes) in the test areas, the observers were generally in agreement. The same person is often consistent in his or her estimation: it is the comparison with the estimations of others that can lead to misleading results. The system for using the information about vegetation growth requires development. The threshold for the amount of weeds that can be tolerated in different track types is an important component in such a system. The classification system must be capable of dealing with the demands placed on it so as to ensure the quality of the track and other pre-conditions such as traffic levels, conditions pertaining to track location, and the characteristics of the vegetation. The project recommends that the Swedish Transport Administration: Discusses how threshold values for the growth of vegetation on railway embankments can be determined Carries out registration of the growth of vegetation over longer and a larger number of railway sections using one or more of the methods studied in the project Introduces a system that effectively matches the information about vegetation to its position Includes information about the growth of vegetation in the records that are currently maintained of the track’s technical quality, and link the data material to other maintenance-related databases Establishes a number of representative surfaces in which weed inventories (by measuring) are regularly conducted, as a means of developing an overview of the long-term development that can serve as a basis for more precise prognoses in terms of vegetation growth Ensures that necessary opportunities for education are put in place

Competition of sicklepod, cassia obtusifolia l., densities on soybean, glycine max (l.) merr., at variable row distance

Competition studies with soybeans, Glycine max (L.) Merr. "Bragg." and sicklepod, Cassia obtusifolia L., were conducted at the Agricultural Research and Education Center of the University of Florida in Quincy, Florida. Two field experiments were established, one on May 22, 1975. and the other four weeks later, on June 19, 1975, to determine the competitive effects of various sicklepod densities and the influences of soybean row distances on weed dry matter, soybear plant characteristics, yield components and seed yield, and on soil nutrient content. Control, low, medium, and high sicklepod densities in the first experiment were O, 25,000, 53,000, and 77,000 p1ants/ha, respectively; while the second experiment presented control, low, medium, and high sicklepod densities of O, 36,000, 68,000, and 122,000 plants/ha, respectively. Three soybean row distance treatments were tested using a constant pattern of 90-, 60-, and 45-cm widths throughout the growing season. Three other treatments, evaluated in a variable patern, were initially seeded in 30-cm row widths. Five weeks after planting, an appropriate number of soybean rows were harvested from the 30"cm pattern to establish row distances of 90, 60, and 30-60 cm for the remainder of the season. ln the greenhouse a test was conducted to evaluate the effects af those variables on seed germination and seedling vigor for the next soybean generation. As a result of full-season sicklepod competition, soybean plants were less branched, set fewer leaves, and presented thinner stems as compared to the control. However, height of soybean plants was not affected by the presence of sicklepod. ln one of the two experiments, number of nodes decreased for soybeans under weed campetition. The yield components--number of pods; number of seeds, and seed yield per soybean plant--were all similarly reduced due to weed competition. Seeds per pod were decreased to a lesser extent. Soybean seed yields per unit area were significantly diminished by increasing levels af sicklepod ínfestation. While the control produced 3120 kg/ha, the sicklepod densities of 25,000, 53,000, and 77,000 plants/ha reduced seed yíelds 47, 65, and 73%, respectively. As soybean row distances decreased, number of branches, number of leaves, and stem diameter of soybeans decreased. However, the height of soybean plants increased with narrwing of row width. The components of seed yield--number of pods, number of seeds, and seed yield per soybean plant--diminished as row spacing was reduced. Maximum difference between row distances for these attributes was attained for soybean plants under weed-free conditions. Generally, as row width decreased, soybean seed yield per unit area increased. Specifically, soybear.s in 90-cm rows, either in constant or variable row pattern, yielded less than soybeans in 60- and 30-60-cm rows in the variable pattern. Soil contents of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium were not affected by the various levels of sicklepod and soybean populalions. Neither the sicklepod densities nor the soybean row distances influenced seed germination and seedling vigor in the next soybean generation. Sicklepod was a strong competitor with soybeans at all density ranges investigated. Because sicklepod grows taller than soybeans during the reproductive stages of the crop, limited success can be reached by varying row spacing alone. However, this practice is considered an integral measure to complement other methods of sicklepod control. Compared to constant rows, the soybean cropping system using variable row spacings presents the choice of planting soybeans at close row spacings to provide early competition with weeds and the possibility of obtaining a forage crop after the first month of growth, without any decreases on the final seed yields.

Genética do acamamento em trigo (Triticum aestivum L.) e a identificação do caráter para seleção

O problema do acamamento em trigo tem chamado a atenção dos melhoristas devido à severidade dos danos causados as plantas com reflexo no rendimento e na qualidade dos grãos. É um caráter difícil de ser estudado diretamente, dados a múltiplas interações com o ambiente. Muitos trabalhos foram desenvolvidos procurando identificar métodos para seleção indireta. A estatura de planta foi exaustivamente estudada por ser um caráter de alta herdabilidade e fortemente correlacionado com o acamamento; entretanto, plantas com estatura abaixo de 70 cm são inadequadas para o cultivo devido a sua pouca competitividade com as ervas daninhas e por apresentarem dificuldades para a colheita mecanizada. Neste sentido, no presente trabalho foram testados os vários caracteres relacionados com o acamamento e métodos indiretos que possibilitem maiores ganhos na seleção. Foi identificado o coeficiente de resistência do colmo, método internacionalmente conhecido com cLr, como sendo a metodologia mais eficiente para seleção indireta em populações segregantes. Foi também mensurada a dissimilaridade genética entre dez cultivares de trigo recomendadas para cultivo no Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina, no ano 2000, e mais os genótipos IAC 5 e TB 951. A genética do caráter cLr foi estudada através da Análise de Gerações, metodologia também conhecida como Teste de Escala Conjunta. Foram avaliadas a natureza e a magnitude dos efeitos gênicos envolvidos o que ficou determinado que a aditividade e dominância atuam de maneira similar. Não foram encontrados efeitos epistáticos e a herdabilidade no sentido restrito foi de mediana a alta. O caráter cLr parece ser controlado por dois genes independentes com dois alelos cada, sendo que o genótipo duplamente recessivo (aabb) expressou fenotipicamente os valores mais altos para resistência ao acamamento.

Manejo reprodutivo pós-parto de vacas primíparas e desenvolvimento de terneiros

O trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar os efeitos de cargas animais de 240 e 320 kg PV/ha em campo nativo (T1 e T2, respectivamente), de 400 kg PV/ha em pastagem melhorada com azevém (Lolium multiflorum L.) por 80 dias pós-parto e, após, carga animal igual a T2 em campo nativo (T3), e do desmame dos terneiros aos 100 dias (DP) ou aos 180 dias (DC) de idade sobre o desempenho reprodutivo de vacas de corte primíparas Hereford e Braford, e sobre o desenvolvimento de seus terneiros. A taxa de prenhez (TP) não foi influenciada (P>0,05) pelos tratamentos (T1 = 93,8%; T2= 90,6%; T3= 100%), nem pela idade de desmame (DP= 97,8%; DC= 91,3%). Houve efeito significativo dos tratamentos (P<0,05) sobre a TP aos 21 dias (T1= 15,6%; T2= 0,0%; T3= 17,9%) e aos 42 dias (T1= 46,9%; T2= 37,5%; T3= 71,4%) após iniciada a estação de acasalamento. O intervalo entre partos (IEP) e o intervalo parto-concepção (IPC) foram influenciados (P<0,01) pelos tratamentos. O IEP e o IPC para T1, T2 e T3 foram 390,9; 399,0 e 386,8 dias e 105,9; 114,0 e 101,8 dias, respectivamente Terneiros filhos de vacas Braford no T2 foram mais pesados ao desmame (P<0,05) do que terneiros filhos de vacas da mesma raça no T1 e filhos de vacas Hereford no T2. Os terneiros do DP tiveram pesos ajustados aos 180 dias menores (P<0,01) do que os do DC (174,6 kg vs. 197,2 kg, respectivamente). Não houve efeito (P>0,05) dos tratamentos, nem da idade de desmame sobre o peso dos terneiros aos 365 dias de idade. Os novilhos do DP tiveram pesos de abate e de carcaça, aos 14 meses, inferiores (P<0,01) aos novilhos do DC. Entretanto, o ganho de peso e o rendimento de carcaça dos novilhos do DP foram superiores (P<0,01) aos novilhos do DC. Não houve efeito (P>0,05) da idade de desmame sobre a espessura de gordura subcutânea.

Relações planta-animal num sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária

Este trabalho buscou estudar um sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária com diferentes alturas de pastos, no período de inverno, e seus reflexos sobre a dinâmica da pastagem e o desempenho animal. O experimento foi conduzido em uma pastagem de aveia + azevém manejada sob diferentes intensidades de pastejo. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso com quatro tratamentos (10, 20, 30 e 40 cm de altura de manejo) e três repetições. Utilizaramse terneiros de corte de cruzamento industrial com idade e peso médio inicial de 10 meses e 210 kg, respectivamente. O método de pastejo foi contínuo com lotação variável. A adubação de base foi de 400 kg/ha de superfosfato simples e de 90 kg/ha de N em cobertura. As alturas do pasto afetaram a massa de forragem (MF), onde para cada cm de aumento na altura acima de 10 cm, houve incremento na matéria seca da pastagem em cerca de 86 kg/ha de MS. O aumento no ganho médio diário (GMD) foi condicionado pelo incremento na qualidade e/ou na quantidade de forragem disponível, e o modelo de resposta do GMD em relação às alturas do pasto, resultou em valores de 0,73 e 1,14 kg/animal/dia nos tratamentos de maior e menor GMD, respectivamente, que foram de 10 cm e 30 cm de altura. No rendimento de carcaça não houve diferença (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos, uma vez que todos os valores ficaram em torno de 51%. Quanto ao peso de carcaça quente e fria, peso de costilhar, escore de condição corporal e grau de acabamento, observou-se comportamento muito similar à evolução do ganho médio diário dos animais.

Efeito de polimorfismos no gene LEP na expressão da leptina em adipócitos de bovinos de corte

Os caracteres produtivos são normalmente influenciados por muitos fatores, sendo difícil determinar todos os locos envolvidos em um fenótipo específico. Por isso, a seleção animal tem se baseado principalmente em uma estimativa direta ou indireta do fenótipo. A leptina é um importante regulador do metabolismo energético, da adiposidade e da reprodução. E por desempenhar diferentes funções, pode ser considerado um bom gene candidato para o estudo de associações entre marcadores moleculares e a eficiência reprodutiva ou ganho de peso. Em várias espécies, têm sido descritos diversos polimorfismos no gene da leptina, influenciando o ganho de peso, a reprodução, e outras características produtivas. Em bovinos, o STR IDVGA51 e o SNP LEPSau3A1, foram descritos por afetarem a performance reprodutiva, os alelos IDVGA51*181 e LEPSau3A1*2 estando associados a um aumento no intervalo entre partos de 79 e 81 dias, respectivamente, e os STRs BMS1074 e BM1500 afetam o ganho de peso, em vacas, no pós-parto: os alelos BMS1074*151 e BM1500*135 reduzindo e aumentando, respectivamente, o ganho de peso diário. Para confirmar o efeito ou não destes alelos na expressão do gene da leptina, este trabalho comparou os níveis de mRNA de leptina em animais portadores e não portadores dos alelos IDVGA51*181, LEPSau3A1*2, BMS1074*151 e BM1500*135, com os objetivos de: 1. Verificar as distribuições genotípicas e alélicas dos marcadores IDVGA51, BMS1074, BM1500 e LEPSau3A1, em uma amostra de 137 bovinos da raça Brangus-Ibagé, provenientes da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA-Pecuária Sul, Bagé-RS). 2. Identificar, no rebanho, animais portadores e não portadores dos alelos IDVGA51*181, LEPSau3A1*2, BMS1074*151 ou BM1500*135, previamente descritos como associados à eficiência reprodutiva e ganho de peso. 3. Avaliar os animais, criados em campo nativo, com pastagem natural, quanto à sua condição corporal. 4. Realizar procedimento cirúrgico, para obtenção de amostras de tecido adiposo subcutâneo e omental. 5. Dosar os níveis de mRNA de leptina nos adipócitos destes dois tecidos, através do método quantitativo em tempo real (Real-Time RT-PCR), comparando a expressão do gene LEP entre indivíduos portadores e não portadores dos alelos de predisposição a ganho de peso e desempenho reprodutivo.

Análise da variabilidade genética de Paspalum Notatum Flugge (Poaceae, Panicoideae) com o uso de marcadores moleculares, morfológicos e citometria de fluxo

O gênero Paspalum L. compreende aproximadamente 400 espécies no mundo e cerca de 220 no Brasil. Paspalum é ecologicamente e economicamente importante e tem sido utilizado como pastagem. Paspalum notatum Flügge (grama-forquilha) é uma valorosa gramínea forrageira nos subtrópicos. Esta espécie consiste de vários biótipos sexuais (diplóides) e apomíticos (tetraplóides, ocasionalmente tri e pentaplóides). Neste trabalho, os Inter Simple Sequence repeat (ISSR) foram utilizados para acessar a diversidade genética da grama-forquilha (Paspalum notatum). Os tecidos vegetativos de 95 acessos de grama-forquilha foram obtidos de vários locais da América do Sul (Brasil, Argentina e Uruguai). Um total de 91 de fragmentos reproduzível ISSR foi observado. Oitenta e nove fragmentos (97,5% do total observado) foram polimórficos. A análise de agrupamento (UPGMA) foi realizada para o conjunto de dados ISSR. Os resultados ilustram as relações genéticas entre 95 acessos de Paspalum notatum. A comparação entre dados moleculares, morfológicos e nível de ploidia foi realizada. Em resumo, os marcadores moleculares ISSR mostraram-se eficientes para distinção dos genótipos analisados e observou-se uma variabilidade ampla para a espécie. Estes resultados adicionam novas informações sobre a diversidade genética em Paspalum notatum, conseqüentemente contribuindo para o conhecimento biológico desta espécie e fornecendo subsídios para futuros programas de melhoramento genético e para programas de conservação.