Biometrics applied to intra-population improvement of the yellow passion fruit

Abstract

The objective of the study was to estimate genetic parameters associated with eleven agronomic traits of a population of yellow passion fruit under recurrent selection, using 140 full-sibling progenies from the second cycle, planted in October 2007 in a simple square lattice design and in plots consisting of three plants. The mean squares of their features revealed F-test significance for the effect of progeny, indicating that there is genetic variability to be explored in the next cycles. Estimates of heritability coefficients ranged from 19.54 to 71.38%. The averages of the main characteristics of agronomic importance in the studied population were higher than those of the controls, confirming the potential of the population to generate a superior population with the accumulation of favorable alleles in successive processes of selection. Estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters of the main characteristics of economic importance reveal the possibility of success in the selection of superior progenies of yellow passion fruit, with the aim of registration and protection of a new cultivar.