Under the hypothesis of distinction and characterization of promising genotypes in the genetic improvement of castor, the aim of this work was to evaluate the agronomic performance, phenotypic adaptability and genetic divergence between castor genotypes grown in the Cerrado-Pantanal ecotone. The experiment was conducted in 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 in the experimental area of the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul -UEMS. The treatments consisted of seven castor genotypes (BRS Energia, IAC 2028, IAC-Guarani, BRS Nordestina, BRS Paraguaçu, IAC-80 and IAC-226) arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. The following agronomic characters were assessed: plant height, stem diameter, number of fruits and productivity. Data were subjected to individual and combined analysis of variance, and means were compared by the Skott-Knott test. Phenotypic stability was estimated with productivity data by the Lins and Binns method. Genetic divergence between the genotypes studied was determined by the methods of Ward's and Tocher's, using the Mahalanobis's distance as dissimilarity measure. The BRS Energia genotype showed higher productivity and phenotypic adaptability. The crossing of the BRS Energia and BRS Paraguaçu genotypes can produce a hybrid with high heterosis effect and, consequently, of high productivity. (BRS Energia, IAC-2028, IAC-Guarani, BRS Nordestina, BRS Paraguaçu, IAC-80 e IAC-226)
RESUMO: Sob a hipótese de distinção e caracterização de genótipos promissores no melhoramento genético da mamona, objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar o desempenho agronômico, adaptabilidade fenotípica e divergência genética entre genótipos de mamona cultivados no ecótono Cerrado-Pantanal. O experimento foi conduzido nos anos de 2010/2011 e 2011/2012 na área experimental da Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul. Os tratamentos consistiram de sete genótipos