Phenotypic variability among pumpkin accessions in the Brazilian semiarid

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the phenotypic divergence among fourteen pumpkins accessions of the cucurbits Germplasm Active Bank of Embrapa Semiárido, in order to support breeding program to these species. Nine morphoagronomic descriptors were analyzed by the principal components and by UPGMA techniques. In the analysis of principal components, the formation of three contrasting clusters was observed, each one composed of two accessions. There occurred also the formation of one core group composed of five accessions, being the accessions called 683 and 684 collected in Bahia and the other in Maranhão. The most divergent accessions were 620, 624 and 748. The variables of the greatest contribution to the genetic divergence were diameter, weight and average length of the fruit. In the UPGMA analysis, obtained from the symmetric matrices generated by the Mahalanobis distance for the nine descriptors, there was the formation of one core group, composed of ten accessions, whose similarity was 45.71%, with geographically divergent accessions presenting the greatest similarity. Three accessions were not clustered with others. The study identified phenotypic variability for the analyzed characters and the absence of relationship between place of collection and phenotypic diversity.

Germplasm of Brazilian winter squash (Cucurbita moschataD.) displays vast genetic variability, allowing identification of promising genotypes for agro-morphological traits

“…The variability denoted by the clustering of the accessions corroborates the high estimates of genetic variances and heritabilities displayed by most of the agronomic characteristics, the total carotenoid content of the fruit pulp, and the seed characteristics such as MSF, MS/F and NSF (Table 3). This is also analogous to other studies involving the analysis of variability in this crop in Brazil [18, 20].…”

“…Associated with its socio-economic importance, C. moschata germplasm commonly expresses high genetic variability in all regions where it occurs [15, 16, 17], especially in Brazil [18, 19, 20]. Archaeological evidence indicates that this species was present in Latin America prior to colonisation, and appears to have already been an important component in the diet of the native peoples living there [21, 22, 23].…”

Caracterização morfológica de variedades crioulas de abóboras (Cucurbita maxima) do sul do Brasil

“…A análise de componentes principais tem sido utilizada em Cucurbita por outros autores. Borges et al (2011) verificaram a formação de grupos distintos, ao estimarem a divergência genética, em 16 acessos de abóbora (C. moschata) do Banco Ativo de Germoplasma de Cucurbitáceas, da Embrapa Semiárido, com base em caracterizações morfológica e agronômica, para orientar trabalhos de melhoramento genético com a espécie em que as variáveis que contribuíram para a divergência genética foram diâmetro médio, peso médio e comprimento médio do fruto. Balkaya et al (2010) também obtiveram diferentes agrupamentos, ao avaliarem acessos de C. maxima, utilizando a análise de componentes principais em que as variáveis peso e comprimento do fruto, comprimento da semente, espessura da polpa, espessura da casca e sólidos solúveis totais foram as que mais contribuíram para a divergência genética entre os acessos.…”

Prediction of genetic and selection parameters in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) progenies for morphoagronomic characteristics and pulp quality

“…In Brazil, pumpkin is considered a naturalized species that is perfectly adapted to the semiarid region, where it has developed great variability, as evidenced by the wide variation in characteristics such as the colouring of the bark and pulp and the size and shape of the fruit (Ramos et al, 2000). This variability has been conserved in the Genetic Bank (GB) of Embrapa Semiárido, in Petrolina, Pernambuco state, Brazil, and has allowed for several research projects, including the characterization of accessions of the GB (Borges et al, 2011) for agronomical traits of commercial fruit quality, as well as total carotenoid content, in particular, β-carotene. The objectives of the present study were to estimate and predict gains in genetic parameters, as well as to select superior individuals for morphoagronomic and pulp quality characteristics, in C. moschata.…”