Morphoagronomic diversity in Butia capitata progenies (Arecaceae)

• Published in: Euphytica 2023-07, Vol.219 (7), p.81, Article 81
• Main Authors: Souza, Patrícia Nery Silva, Andrade, Fabio Henrique Patez, Azevedo, Alcinei Mistico, Nietsche, Silvia, Ribeiro, Leonardo Monteiro, Lopes, Paulo Sergio Nascimento
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Butia capitata; Clustering; Fruit trees; Fruits; Genetic variability; Industrial applications; Leaves; Life Sciences; Multivariate analysis; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Statistical analysis; Weight
• ISSN: 0014-2336; 1573-5060
• DOI: 10.1007/s10681-023-03203-3

Butia capitata , coquinho azedo, is a palm tree endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado, ecologically important and with great economic potential, related to the agro-industrial use of its fruits. As a subsidy to the conservation actions and management strategies of the species, the objective was to characterize the relative importance of the morphoagronomic characters and the diversity of half-sib progenies, using different multivariate approaches. Twenty-three quantitative and 33 qualitative traits were evaluated in 18 half-sib progenies of Butia capitata 6-year-old progenies. Phenotypic variability among progenies was evaluated using descriptive statistics, analysis of canonical variables and clustering using dendrograms. The relative importance of the characters was determined. The progenies showed significant diversity, based on 11 quantitative characters. The highest phenotypic correlation r p value was observed between fruit weight (WFR) and bunch weight (WBU) ( r p = 0.99); there was also a significant correlation between leaf length and production traits (bunches and fruits number and weight). The first and second canonical variables accounted for 72% of the total variation. The length and width of the leaves, the ratio of the length and width of the fruits, the flavor and color of the fruit were the characteristics that most contributed to explain the variation between individuals. The 11 quantitative descriptors allowed grouping the 18 progenies into four distinct groups. This study provides important information on the characterization of diversity among B. capitata progenies, considering both the univariate and multivariate approaches. In addition, traits of agronomic importance that should be prioritized in breeding programs for this promising neotropical fruit tree were defined.