Brazil is one of the main centers of origin of pineapple species presenting the largest genetic variation of the Ananas genus. Embrapa Cassava and Fruits is a Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation and has an ex-situ collection of 678 accessions of the Ananas genus and some other Bromeliaceae. The use of ornamental pineapple has increased in the last years demanding new varieties, mainly for the external market, due to the originality and colors of its tiny fruits. The main aim of the present study was describing accessions from the pineapple gene bank in order to quantify their genetic variation and identify possible progenitors to be used in breeding programs According to the results, the evaluated accessions were separated into the following categories: landscape plants, cut flower, potted plants, minifruits, foliage and hedge. The genetic distance among accessions was determined using the combined qualitative and quantitative data by the Gower algorithm. The pre-selected accessions presented genetic variation and ornamental potential for different uses. The multicategory analysis formed seven clusters through a classification method based on the average Euclidean distance between all accessions using the cut-point of genetic dissimilarity (D dg = 0.35). The genotypes A. comosus var. erectifolius were selected to be used as landscape plants, cut flower, minifruits and potted plants. Accessions of A. comosus var. bracteatus and A. macrodontes were selected as landscape plants and hedge. The highest variation was observed in A. comosus var. ananassoides genotypes, which presented high potential for use as cut flowers.

The Musa germplasm collection at Embrapa Cassava and Fruits detains accessions from different sections of the Musa genus. The objective of the present study was to identify and morphologically characterize banana accessions from the banana germplasm with ornamental potential, as well as to quantify their genetic variability; and identify possible progenitors to be used in breeding aiming to achieve ornamental crossbreeds. The accessions were evaluated with the use of 32 morphological descriptors. Then, they were the following grouped into categories: landscape plants, cut flower, potted plants, and male inflorescence minifruits. The pre-selected accessions presented great genetic variability and ornamental potential for different uses. The accessions of the Rhodochlamys and Callimusa sections were selected to be used as landscape plants, cut flowers, potted plants, male inflorescence and minifruits. Most of the diploids from the Eumusa section evaluated in this study are indicated for the production of ornamental minifruits, except for 'Lidi' and Cici, which can also be indicated as landscape plants. The BB diploids have great potential for the use of the male inflorescence in floral arrangements, and did not offer any other indication.

ABSTRACT. Embrapa Cassava and Fruits has developed ornamental pineapple hybrids for several categories of ornamental use including cut flowers, potted plants and landscaping. The objective of this study was to carry out a clonal evaluation of two ornamental hybrids using quantitative and qualitative morphological descriptors to recommend these hybrids as new ornamental pineapple cultivars. Twenty plants of each hybrid (PL01 and PL04) were evaluated regarding the response to floral induction as well as the stability and homogeneity of the clones in two production cycles. The descriptive statistics were calculated and analyzed to determine the genetic distance based on the Gower algorithm. Four groups were formed, two using parental data and the other two containing the different hybrids that were evaluated in the two growing cycles. In the floral evaluation, the time from field planting to harvest of the stem as a cut flower was determined to be as long as 17 months in the first cycle and 13.5 months in the second cycle for both hybrids. They were characterized as a novelty in the flower market; they showed genetic stability and homogeneity and can be recommended as new cultivars of ornamental pineapple because they exhibit satisfactory quality and meet the market requirements.Keywords: Ananas sp., cut flower, floral induction, new cultivars, plant breeding.Avaliação clonal de novos híbridos de abacaxizeiros ornamentais para uso como flores de corte RESUMO. A Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura desenvolveu híbridos de abacaxi ornamental para diferentes usos, dentre eles, flor de corte, plantas de vaso e paisagismo. O objetivo desse estudo foi realizar a avaliação clonal de dois híbridos ornamentais usando descritores morfológicos quantitativos e qualitativos, a fim de serem recomendados como novas cultivares de abacaxis ornamentais. Vinte plantas de cada híbrido (PL01 e PL04) foram avaliadas em dois ciclos de produção em relação à resposta à indução floral, bem como a estabilidade e homogeneidade dos clones. Foram realizadas estatísticas descritivas e uma analise para determinação da distância genética, com base no algoritmo de Gower. Foram formados quatro grupos, sendo dois com os parentais e dois com os diferentes híbridos avaliados nos dois ciclos da cultura. No que se refere a avaliação do florescimento, do plantio no campo até o ponto de corte foram aproximadamente 17 meses no primeiro ciclo e 13,5 meses no segundo ciclo para ambos os híbridos. Os híbridos se caracterizaram como uma novidade no segmento de flores mostrando-se estáveis e homogêneos e podem ser recomendados como novas cultivares de abacaxi ornamental por apresentarem qualidade satisfatória e atenderem as exigências de mercado.Palavras-chave: Ananas sp., flor de corte, indução floral, novas cultivares, melhoramento de plantas.

The ornamenfal market is dynamic and demands constant novelties. The use of fruif crops as ornamenfal plants can be an interesfing alternative wifh very differentiated and original products. The banana germplasm bank at Embrapa Cassava and Fruifs has been primarily used in fhe breeding program for generating new culfivars as food. To diversify and expand fhe use of fhis collecfion, accessions wifh ornamenfal potential have been selected to obtain new hybrids. This work was aimed at characterizing the progeny of ornamental Musa L. spp. by grouping the hybrids according to the following uses: landscape plants, potted plants, cut flower, or minifruits. Forty-two hybrids were evaluated with 14 quantitative and 12 qualitative descriptors in three production cycles. In addition, assays for resistance to black and yellow Sigatoka and to Fusarium wilt were performed. Variability was observed for all the characteristics evaluated within progenies, especially with regard fo leaf color, fruit, peduncle, rachis, and heart. All evaluated hybrids were resistant to yellow Sigatoka and to Fusarium wilt and were resistant or showed reduced symptoms of susceptibility to black Sigatoka. Most hybrids (82%) presented reduced plant height. After clustering by use category, the hybrids RM 09. RM 38, RM 37, and RM 33 were selected and recommended fo be used as cut flowers, minifruits, or landscaping plants.