Measurement of genetic diversity in progenies of sour passion fruit by ward-mlm methodology: a strategy for heterotic group formation

Abstract

Passion fruit belongs to the family Passifloraceae, and the genus Passiflora is regarded the most economically important. The present study aimed to quantify genetic diversity among progenies of sour passion fruit, in order to define potential heterotic groups, based on morpho-agronomic descriptors, using the Ward-MLM procedure. It is useful for generation advancement in the passion fruit breeding program, via recurrent selection, under development at the Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF). For such, 81 full-sib progenies belonging to the third recurrent selection cycle (C03) were assessed. Twenty-three descriptors were used, five of which were qualitative and 18, quantitative. The quantitative and qualitative variables were analyzed simultaneously using the Ward-MLM procedure for the composition of groups. The likelihood function determined that five was the ideal number of groups. The Ward-MLM classification strategy for morpho-agronomic data analysis allowed the formation of five groups into 26, 5, 15, 16 and 19 progenies. A certain distance was observed for group III, compared to the other groups while groups I, II, IV and V showed approximation. This greater distance of group III compared to the other groups may indicate crosses, aiming at the exploitation of heterosis, for the pyramiding of favorable alleles for traits of interest. The Ward-MLM statistical procedure was a useful tool to detect genetic divergence and group progenies using simultaneously quantitative and qualitative variables.

<b>Prediction of genetic gains by selection indexes and REML/BLUP methodology in a population of sour passion fruit under recurrent selection

“…Due to the importance of this culture, breeding programmes must be improved to accelerate the development of new cultivars (Silva et al, 2014).…”

“…Therefore, this effort represents a pioneering research proposal that allows the generation of a large amount of knowledge on the genetic characteristics of this fruit as well as agreement on breeding methods that can be applied to passion fruit (Silva et al, 2014).…”

Relationship Between Yield and Fruit Quality of Passion Fruit C03 Progenies Under Different Nutritional Levels

“…Brazil is the largest producer of passion fruit, having generated 823,284 t in a total area of 56,820ha harvested in 2014,with an average national production of 14.49 (VIANA et al, 2003;GONÇALVES et al, 2007;FERREIRA et al, 2016;SILVA et al, 2014). Research has recently been undertaken for the enhancement of plant production aspects and management of fertilization for the optimization of the yield and quality of this new cultivar.…”

Backcrosses in a segregating population of Passiflora mediated by morphoagronomic and resistance traits

“…Passiflora edulis Sims, known simply as "passion fruit" (or "sour passion fruit", in Brazil), is the main commercial species thanks to its quality, vigor, and juice yield (Silva et al 2014). The average yield of this species attained in the Brazilian orchards in the last ten years was 15.6 t•ha -1 , and its production potential reaches over 40 t•ha -1 (IBGE 2017).…”

“…The fruit hardening (woodiness) caused by the Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV) is an important disease that affects the passion fruit crop in Brazil and limits fruit production, causing significant production losses. After being infected, the plant shows a common mosaic, wrinkling, distortion, and reduction in its foliar area, and smaller, deformed fruits with a hardened pericarp, which leads to decreased yield and low fruit quality (Cerqueira- Silva et al 2014).…”