Estimating the genetic variability in germplasm collections is important not only for conserving genetic resources, but also for plant breeding purposes. However, generating a large number of different categories data (qualitative and quantitative) often complicate the analysis and results interpretation, resulting in an incomplete distinction of accessions. This study reports the characterization and evaluation of 14 pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) accessions collected from farms in the northern region of Rio de Janeiro state. Genetic diversity among accessions was also estimated using qualitative and quantitative variables considering joint analysis. The plants were grown under field conditions in a randomized block design with three replications and six plants per plot. Eight qualitative traits (leaf size; seed shape; seed color; color of the fruit pulp; hollow; fruit shape; skin color, and fruit skin texture) and eight quantitative traits (fruit weight; fruit length; fruit diameter; soluble solids, 100 seed weight, and wall thickness measured in the middle and in the lower stem) were evaluated. The data were analyzed considering the Gower distance, and cluster analysis was performed using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). Variability among accessions was observed considering morphoagronomic data. The Gower distance together with UPGMA cluster allowed for good discrimination between accessions in the groups, demonstrating that the simultaneous analysis of qualitative and quantitative data is feasible and may increase the understanding of the variation among accessions. Key words: Cucurbita moschata. Gower distance. Morphoagronomic descriptors. Multivariate analyses. ResumoA estimativa da variabilidade genética em banco de germoplasma é importante não só para conservação dos recursos genéticos, mas também para sua utilização no melhoramento de plantas. Entretanto, a geração de um grande número de variáveis de diferentes categorias (qualitativas e quantitativas) pode dificultar a análise e a interpretação dos resultados, muitas vezes resultando na incompleta distinção dos acessos. Este trabalho objetivou caracterizar 14 acessos de Cucurbita moschata coletados no Norte do Estado do Rio de Janeiro e estimar a divergência genotípica entre esses acessos, utilizando a análise conjunta de variáveis qualitativas e quantitativas. As plantas foram cultivadas a campo, no delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com três repetições e seis plantas por parcela. oito variáveis qualitativas (tamanho da folha; formato da semente; cor da semente; cor da polpa do fruto; reentrância; formato do fruto; cor predominante da casca e textura da superfície da casca) e oito variáveis quantitativas (massa do fruto; comprimento e diâmetro do fruto; teor de sólidos solúveis totais; massa de 100 sementes, e espessura da polpa no pedúnculo, mediana e inferior). Os dados foram analisados considerando a distância de Gower e o agrupamento dos acessos foi realizado pelo método UPGMA. Verificou-se variabilidade entre os aces...

Winter squash fruits (Cucurbita moschata D.) are among the best sources of vitamin A precursors and constitute sources of bioactive components such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Approximately 70% of C. moschata seed oil is made up of unsaturated fatty acids, with high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids and components such as vitamin E and carotenoids, which represent a promising nutritional aspect in the production of this vegetable. C. moschata germplasm expresses high genetic variability, especially in Brazil. We assessed 91 C. moschata accessions, from different regions of Brazil, and maintained at the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) Vegetable Germplasm Bank, to identify early-flowering accessions with high levels of carotenoids in the fruit pulp and high yields of seed and seed oil. Results showed that the accessions have high variability in the number and mass of seeds per fruit, number of accumulated degree-days for flowering, total carotenoid content, and fruit productivity, which allowed selection for considerable gains in these characteristics. Analysis of the correlation between these characteristics provided information that will assist in selection to improve this crop. Cluster analysis resulted in the formation of 16 groups, confirming the variability of the accessions. Per se analysis identified accessions BGH-6749, BGH-5639, and BGH-219 as those with the earliest flowering. Accessions BGH-5455A and BGH-5598A had the highest carotenoid content, with averages greater than 170.00 μg g-1 of fresh mass. With a productivity of 0.13 t ha-1 , accessions BGH-5485A, BGH-4610A, and BGH-5472A were the most promising for seed oil production. These last two accessions corresponded to those with higher seed productivity, averaging 0.58 and 0.54 t ha-1 , respectively. This study confirms the high potential of this germplasm for use in breeding for promotion of earlier flowering and increase in total content of fruit pulp carotenoids and in seed and seed oil productivity.

RESUMOO manejo de plantas em cultivo protegido e a busca de produtos orgânicos pelos consumidores têm sido um desafio para produtores e pesquisadores de hortaliças. Para que essas formas de cultivo proporcionem lucratividade ao produtor e frutos de qualidade para o consumidor, faz-se necessária a busca por genótipos adaptados a esse manejo diferenciado. Neste trabalho, objetivouse avaliar o desempenho de 12 linhas endogâmicas recombinadas de Capsicum annuum L., obtidas do cruzamento entre os acessos UENF 1421 e UENF 1381, em cultivo protegido sob manejo orgânico. O experimento foi instalado em casa de vegetação, na Estação Experimental de Seropédica da PESAGRO-RIO, em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Avaliaram-se o número total de frutos (NTF), peso total de frutos (PTF), peso médio dos frutos (PMF), comprimento dos frutos (CF), diâmetro dos frutos (DF), relação comprimento/diâmetro do fruto (CF/DF) e presença de capsaicina (CAPS). Foram estimados os parâmetros genéticos variâncias genotípica, fenotípica e ambiental, coeficientes de determinação genotípico e de variação genética e o índice de variação. Houve diferença altamente significativa para todas as características, exceto para PTF. As linhas produziram elevado número de frutos, leves e de formatos variados. Somente duas linhas não tiveram pungência e quatro segregaram para CAPS. Todas as características tiveram alta variância genotípica e altos coeficientes de determinação genotípicos, mostrando que os resultados são, predominantemente, de origem genética. Os dados permitiram a indicação preliminar das linhas 5 e 8 para o cultivo orgânico em ambiente protegido.Termos para indexação: Melhoramento de hortaliças, pimentão, pimenta, parâmetros genéticos, capsaicina. ABSTRACTPlant management under greenhouse conditions, associated with search for ecological products by consumers, has been a challenge for both farmers and vegetable researchers. Obtaining profit and quality depends on adapted genotypes that can be grown using an adequate management. The aim of this work was to study the agronomic performance of 12 recombinant inbred chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) lines, from crosses between UENF 1421 and UENF 1381 accessions, under greenhouse conditions and using an organic system. The experiment was carried out at Seropédica Experimental Station of PESAGRO-RIO, in randomized block design, with four replications. The following variables were evaluated: total number of fruits (TNF); total fruit weight (TFW); average weight of fruits (MWF); fruit length (FL); fruit diameter (FD); length and diameter fruit ratio (LDFR), and capsaicin presence (CAPS). Genotypic, phenotypic and environmental variances, as well as genotypic determination coefficient and variation index were estimated. There was highly significant difference for all traits unless TFW. The lines produced a high number of fruits, with low weight and with variability in shape among lines. Absence of capsaicin was observed only in two lines and other three lines segregated for capsaicin prese...

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The simplified system (SS) is a new method of selecting families in the first experimentation phase used in some sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) breeding programs in Brazil. In the SS, clones are obtained from families whose genotypes are not individualized in the field. Such selected clones are used to compose the cloned family trial. In the conventional method (CM) of breeding, each genotype is individualized to form part of the family evaluation experiment. This work aimed to compare and verify if the SS provides genetic information at least similar to the CM. Two experiments were conducted, one for the CM and the other for the SS. Sixty full‐sib families were evaluated in each experiment. The characteristics evaluated were average stalk height, average stalk diameter, the content of total soluble solids (BRIX), the number of stalks per meter, average stalk mass, tonnes of stalks per hectare, and tonnes of BRIX per hectare. The mixed model methodology was used to estimate the genetic parameters and predict the families' genotypic values. Both methods enabled high precision in the evaluation of families and similar average genetic gains (10.1% for CM and 9.6% for SS). The SS makes it possible to select families with high genotypic value, high accuracy, and genetic gains comparable to the CM. Therefore, although the SS presents similar results as the CM, its simplicity and ease of being installed in the field in a smaller experimental area make it a promising methodology for selecting cloned families in a sugarcane breeding program.