The aim of this study was to estimate the effects of populations and mother trees over some characteristics on pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) fruits as well as their repeatability coefficient. Data came from two populations with 15 mother trees each, covering three years. The following physical and chemical characteristics were evaluated: total fruit weight; external mesocarp weight; number of putamens per fruit; total weight of putamens; total and average pulp weight; and proportion of the weight of lipids and proteins in relation to pulp weight. Analysis of variance was performed using a nested design model. The effects of mother trees within populations were highly significant for all variables under study, while the effects of populations were not for any characteristic, showing that for populations and mother trees, efforts must be focused on the number of mother trees per population rather than on populations. The estimated repeatability coefficients showed high genetic control for total fruit weight; external mesocarp weight; average weight of putamens; average pulp weight; and proportion of the weight of lipids in relation to pulp weight. Therefore, the expression of these characteristics on descendants, by cloning selected mother trees, is likely to be effective. REPETIBILIDADE DE CARACTERÍSTICAS FÍSICAS E QUÍMICAS EM FRUTOS DE PEQUIRESUMO -O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar os efeitos de populações, matrizes e do coeficiente de repetibilidade em frutos de pequizeiro (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.). Foram coletados dados de duas populações, por três anos consecutivos, das seguintes características: massa massa total do fruto; massa do mesocarpo externo; número de putâmens por fruto; massa total e média de putâmens; massa total e média da polpa; e a proporção da massa de lipídeos e proteínas em relação à massa total da polpa. A análise de variância foi feita usando-se um modelo de classificação hierárquica. Os efeitos de matrizes dentro de populações foram altamente significativos para todas as características estudadas, ao passo que os efeitos destas populações não o foram para nenhuma característica, evidenciando que no dimensionamento de testes de populações e progênies, deve-se optar pelo maior número de matrizes por população em detrimento do número de populações. As estimativas de repetibilidade encontradas permitem inferir um alto controle genético para as características massa total do fruto; massa do mesocarpo externo; massa média de putâmens; massa média da polpa; e teor de lipídeos e, portanto, uma maior probabilidade de expressão destas características nos descendentes clonais de matrizes selecionadas. Termos para indexação: Caryocar brasiliense, coeficiente de repetibilidade, matrizes.1 (Paper 209-15).

The study of the genetic and phenotypic variability of the populations of Caryocar brasiliense Camb. assists in strategies for conservation and breeding of the specie. The objective of this work was to characterize the genetic diversity through the physical characteristics of pequi fruits of two populations through uni and multivariate analysis, as well as the implications in their domestication and breeding. Fruits were harvested from 20 mother trees (ten fruits per mother tree) from two populations in the state of Minas Gerais (Curvelo and São Gonçalo do Rio Preto Municipalities) during the years 2010, 2011 and 2012. The data were submitted to analysis of variance using a hierarchical classification model. An analysis of clusters and main components was used for studying the divergences. The effects of the populations were not significant for all the characters analyzed in isolation. The gathering of pequi mother trees shown by multivariate analysis did not correspond to the grouping established by the populations. Selection for breeding and/or preservation purposes should concentrate efforts on fewer populations with larger numbers of mother trees per population. Selection of mother trees with higher fruits and thicker pulp fruits among them, even by visual evaluations only, is recommend in sampling mother trees for breeding purposes.

Conflicting responses have been found for the period of conservation of passion fruit seeds.  Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the response of the seeds of passion fruit progenies to a 24-month storage period.  The sour passion fruit progenies from the third cycle of Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro - UENF intrapopulation recurrent selection program were grown in Itaocara- RJ and the progenies seeds were evaluated for:  germination potential, germination first count, accelerated aging, first count of accelerated aging test, seedling and radicle size and germination speed index.  The germination and vigor of the seeds of the full-sib progenies were assessed by analysis of variance and factorial arrangement with 3 progenies and 7 periods of storage and the averages were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability.  Progenies 1 and 2 responded better to germination (92% for both progeny) and vigor test of accelerated aging (92% for both progeny), rootlet size (6.4 and 5.8 cm, respectively) and germination speed index (2.91 and 2.85, respectively) during storage.  Variations were observed during the storage period in mean of progenies for germination (81-93%) and vigor for all traits, except accelerated aging (84-91%).  At eight months of storage, the seeds presented increased vigor; at 16 months, they showed reduced vigor.  The passion fruit seeds of the progenies under analysis can be stored for up to 24 months with high and uniform germination rate and no loss in vigor.  The seeds from the passion fruit breeding program showed increases in the variables of germination and vigor during the selection process for fruit production variables, proving the efficiency of the breeding program.

Methods for genetic improvement of semi-perennial species, such as passion fruit, often involve large areas, unbalanced data, and lack of observations. Some strategies can be applied to solve these problems. In this work, different models and approaches were tested to improve the precision of estimates of genetic evaluation models for several characteristics of the passion fruit. A randomized block design (RBD) model was compared to a posteriori correction, adding two factors to the model (post-hoc blocking Row-Col). These models were also combined with the frequentist and Bayesian approaches to identify which combination yields the most accurate results. These approaches are part of a strategic plan in a perennial plant breeding program to select promising genitors of passion to compose the next selection cycle.For Bayesian, we tested two priors, defining different values for the distribution parameters of effect variances of the model. We also performed a cross-validation test to choose a priori values and compare the frequentist and Bayesian approaches using the root mean square error (RMSE) and the correlation between the predicted and observed values, called Predictive capacity of the model (PC). The model with the post-hoc blocking Row-Col design captured the spatial variability for productivity and number of fruits, directly affecting the experimental precision. Both approaches applied to the models showed a similar performance, with predictive capacity and selective efficiency leading to the selection of the same individuals.