Cytogenetic, Ecologic and Morphologic Studies in Brazilian Forms of Paspalum Dilatatum

The somatic number, meiotic behavior, morphology and ecology of five forms of Paspalum dilatatum Poir are reported. The sexual type yellow anther (2n = 40) showed essentially regular meiotic behavior. The common form (2n = 50) presented 20 II and 10 I in about 85% of the cells studied at diakinesis and metaphase I. Pauciciliatum (2n = 40) and Uruguaiana (2n = 60) showed a wide range of chromosome configurations at these stages; finally, Torres presented uniformly 60 univalents. These results are compared with morphologic and ecologic data and some suggestions about the possible mode of origin of these forms are presented.