Genetic divergence among peach palm progenies for palm heart characters

Abstract

The objective of this work was to estimate the genetic diversity of peach palm progenies, based on palm heart agronomic traits. A randomized block design was used in 10x10 triple lattice, with 100 treatments (progenies) and three replicates. The following evaluations were made: palm heart base mass, first-rate and second-rate palm heart productivity, number of plants per plot, and palm heart diameter. The genetic divergence was estimated by generalized Mahalanobis distance, as a dissimilarity measure, and by the Tocher optimization method and canonical variables, for group formation. The progenies formed 26 groups. Cumulative variance of the first three canonical variables was 75.12%. Plant per plot and second-rate palm heart mass, indirectly related to the first-rate palm heart mass, were the most important characters in the discrimination of progenies, in the first canonical variable (35.77%). Mass of the palm heart base was indirectly related to the second-rate palm heart productivity and number of plants per plot, in the second canonical variable (22.93%), and to the first-rate palm heart productivity in the third canonical variable (16.42%). Seventeen progenies of four divergent groups (G3, G5, G11 and G12) have potential for selection as to palm heart yield in the breeding program of peach palm.