Phenotypic distance among assai palm’s mother plants (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) from Eastern Amazon

Abstract

The açai palm tree (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) is native to the Amazonian estuary. Media revelation of the nutraceutical properties of açai palm has resulted in its introduction in the national and international markets, consequently increasing the açai palm crop area in the Amazon. Nevertheless, açai palm cultivation is performed in a rational manner, because of limited product extraction from the native açai palm varieties. The study aimed to conduct a preliminary estimate of genetic variability, parameters, and phenotypic divergence of parent açai palms. Data from 129 parent plants from northeast Pará was collected. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of 22 morphoagronomic traits was performed to estimate the genetic parameters. Divergence was estimated using standardized average euclidean distance by using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) and Tocher clustering methods. Significant variance was noted in 77.3% traits (ANOVA, p<0.01 and p<0.05); CVg/CVe ratio indicated that 72.3% traits may present genetic variability for use in breeding programs. The euclidean distance showed EO-070 and EO-072 parent plants (Combu Island) as the least divergent, and EO-010 (Belém) and EO-018 (Salinópolis) as the most divergent. The clustering methods determined ten (Tocher) and nine (UPGMA) similar groups. The most dissimilar parent plants were EO-035 (Capitão Poço), EO- 109 (Combu Island), EO-019 (Salinópolis), and EO-010 (Belém) (Tocher method), whereas even the EO-010 (Belém); EO-011 (São João de Pirabas); EO-017, EO-018, and EO-019 (Salinópolis); EO-062 and EO-109 (Combu Island) plants showed dissimilarity. We concluded that the 129 mother plants have high phenotypic variability, indicating the possibility of their use in genetic breeding programs. Further, the divergent parent plants can be used in the production of genotypes with favorable characteristics.