The cytogenetics and evolution of forage legumes from Rio Grande do Sul: a review

The work developed by the Cytogenetics Group of the Department of Forage Plants and Agrometeorology (Departamento de Plantas Forrageiras e Agrometerologia - DPFA), Agronomy Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), are reviewed in the present study. Topics discussed include: the chromosome numbers and meiotic behavior of Desmodium and Vigna; the application of cytogenetic methods (e.g., polyploidy induction in Trifolium riograndense) to plant breeding; the genetic control of chromosome pairing in autopolyploids of T. riograndense; karyotypes of the Vicia sativa aggregate in Southern Brazil as an example of a founder effect leading to a reduction in karyotype but not to morphological variability; data on the karyotypes of four Lathyrus species which show that the evolution of these species has been accompanied by a decrease in chromosome size, and the results of an investigation of variability in chromosome number in a complete genus, Leucaena. The main objectives of the group for the near future are also outlined.