The goal of this work was to estimate stability and adaptability parameters using a Bayesian approach to Eberhart and Russel's method and to assess the efficiency of using an a priori distribution. The information from assessing the popping expansion and grain yield of 16 popcorn genotypes was used in randomized block experiments implemented in five environments in the North and Northeast regions of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Bayesian methodology was implemented using the free software package R with the MCMCregress function of the MCMCpack package. Eberhart and Russel's method using a Bayesian technique was found to be efficient in recommending cultivars to more or less favorable environments. The incorporation of a priori information provided greater accuracy in estimating the stability and adaptability parameters. In the comparison of a priori distributions, the BayesFactor function indicated the informative a priori as the most effective for obtaining reliable estimates.

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The green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a nutrient-rich vegetable much appreciated; although, little studied, in Brazil. The aim of the current study was to investigate the nature of traits of interest, as well as to select plants for the green bean breeding program based on genotype vs. trait biplot analysis. The experiment followed a randomized block design, with 4 repetitions and 17 genotypes. Analysis of variance, principal component analysis and biplot charts were performed to analyze the number of pods per plant, the number of seeds per pod, the number of seeds per plant, seed weight per plant, 100-seed weight, as well as grain and pod yields. The analysis of variance showed genetic variability between genotypes. Grain yield, pod yield and seed weight per plant were highly correlated. The number of seeds per pod was negatively correlated with pod weight, grain weight and with seed weight per plant. Lines Feltrin and UENF 14-30-3 were indicated to increase gains in variables such as grain yield and pod yield.

Aiming at the generation of new guava varieties with superior attributes, we conducted this study adopting the REML/BLUP procedure at individual level. Seventeen segregating guava families were evaluated in a randomized-block design with two replicates and 12 plants per plot. Families were obtained after controlled biparental pollination. The studied individuals showed high genotypic variance for fruit weight (FW), total yield (YLD), and ascorbic acid content (AAC). The heritability coefficients of the mean of progenies led to high progeny-selection accuracy for pulp yield (PY), soluble solids content (SSC), in addition to FW, YLD, and AAC; moderate accuracy for fruit acidity (FA) and SSC/FA ratio; and low accuracy for mesocarp thickness (MT) and pH. Selection among families (h2mp) indicated the highest values for FW, PY, YLD, SSC, and AAC, revealing that, for the present study, this practice would be effective, since these traits allowed for the highest selection accuracy values among families. As for the ranking of individuals, families originating from crosses UENF 1835 × UENF 1834, UENF 1831 × UENF 1832, and UENF 1831 × UENF 3739 stood out, occupying the first positions for most traits.

'JS 12' with 'Sunrise Solo' and 'Kaphoro Solo PV'; tester 'Americano' with 'Caliman M5', 'Sunrise Solo', 'Baixinho de Santa Amália' and 'Waimanalo'; and tester 'Maradol' with 'Caliman G', 'Caliman AM' and 'Sunrise Solo PT'. These results may be useful in breeding for disease resistance by hybridization.

RESUMOFoi realizado um cruzamento dialélico envolvendo oito genótipos de mamão, quatro do grupo 'Solo' e quatro do grupo 'Formosa'. As 56 combinações híbridas (F1 e recíprocos) juntamente com seus pais foram avaliados quanto à resistência à pinta-preta causada por Asperisporium caricae. Quantificou-se em duas épocas, março e maio de 2010, a severidade da pinta-preta em folhas e frutos. Com a média de cada característica foram estimadas, além da heterose, as capacidades geral e específica de combinação. Os genótipos 'JS12-N', 'Sekati', 'Golden' e 'Sunrise Solo 72/12' apresentaram melhor capacidade geral de combinação para as duas características. Doze híbridos apresentaram resultados promissores para seleção, com baixos valores de capacidade especifica de combinação para resistência à pintapreta, tanto em folhas quanto em frutos. Evidenciou-se efeito de heterose na cultura do mamoeiro para resistência à pinta-preta, com ganhos genéticos significativos advindos tanto de cruzamentos inter-como intragrupos heteróticos e, no segundo caso, especialmente entre genótipos do grupo 'Solo'. Palavras-chave: Asperisporium caricae, Carica papaya, hibridação. ABSTRACT Combining ability and heterosis for resistance to black-spot in papaya genotypes by diallel analysisDiallelic crosses were performed between eight papaya genotypes belonging to the 'Solo' and 'Formosa' heterotic groups (four belonging to each group). The 56 hybrid combinations (F1's and reciprocals) along with their parents were evaluated in a complete randomized block design for resistance to black spot disease, caused by Asperisporium caricae. The severity of black spot in leaves and fruits was quantified in two occasions, March and May 2010. When the genotype effect was significant, heterosis as well as general and specific combining ability were estimated from the severity data. The genotypes 'JS12-N', 'Sekati', 'Golden' and 'Sunrise Solo 72/12' displayed better general combining ability for both characteristics. Twelve hybrids displayed promising results for selection, with low values of specific combining ability for resistance to black spot leaves and fruits. The heterotic group did not affect hybrid performance or heterosis estimates. Heterosis in papaya for resistance to black spot may provide significant genetic gains from both inter-and intraheterotic crosses, and especially from hybridizations involving genotypes of the 'Solo' group.