Abstract

ROSSO, Beatriz; PAGANO, Elba; RIMIERI, Pedro  and  RIOS, Raúl. Characteristics of Bromus cartharticus Vahl (Poaceae) natural populations collected in the central area of Argentina. Sci. agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.) [online]. 2009, vol.66, n.2, pp. 276-279. ISSN 0103-9016.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162009000200019.

Collection of Bromus catharticus Vahl was carried out in the Argentine humid and sub-humid central area. Sixty-eight natural populations are conserved for medium and long term in Pergamino Germplasm Bank and in IRB Germplasm Bank, and ten morphological and agronomic traits were evaluated in the field during two years. There was variability for the traits considered among the accessions. Those populations from the subhumid area showed differences in valuable attributes for breeding. Exploration of marginal areas for this species might be an effective way to add variability to this collection.

Keywords : evaluation; germplasm; prairie grass; plant breeding.