“…The short growth 1 Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, C. P. 37, 37.200-000, Lavras, MG, Brasil. *E-mail: cesarbrasil@ufla.br cycle can be attributed to the cultivars' genetic traits and the tropical climate conditions, particularly the short photoperiod and high temperatures (Menzel 1985, Midmore 1990, Lovato 1993, Fontes and Finger 1999.…”