Brachiaria species discrimination based on different groups of morphological traits

The genus Brachiaria encompasses about one hundred species and the correct classification of the accessions involved in the breeding programs is of great interest for the genetic improvement of this forage species. Three hundred and one accessions of six different Brachiaria species were analyzed, in which vegetative, reproductive and pubescence characteristics were evaluated. Anderson's discriminant analyses were conducted for each one of the three groups of morphological traits and discriminant functions were established for the six species. Rates of correct classification for the vegetative, reproductive and pubescence characteristics were, respectively: B. brizantha (74.00%,69.33% and 30.67%), B. decumbens (63.04%, 89.13% and 65.22%), B. humidicola (52.78%,69.44% and 52.78%), B. jubata (83.87%, 77.42% and 64.52%), B. ruziziensis (89.29%, 92.86% and 85.71 %) e B. dictyoneura (80.00%, 70.00% and 70.00%). The vegetative and reproductive traits showed to be the most efficient, while the pubescence group was the least efficient in the classification and discrimination of the species.