Genetic diversity of Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. (Caryocaraceae: Malpighiales) among genotypes producing fruits with and without thorns in the endocarp

The aim of this research was to evaluate genetic diversity among genotypes of “pequi”, Caryocar brasiliense, producing fruits with and without thorns in the endocarp, which is one the biometric characteristics of the fruits. The variance components associated with the effects of the model and estimates of the proportions of the total phenotypic variation were estimated due to the difference between groups, the difference between genotypes within each group, the difference between fruits within genotypes and within of groups. The genetic diversity within each group was verified, mainly in the group of plants producing fruit without thorns. In this study, H2 varied from 0.0 to 88.40% in the group of fruits with thorns and from 0.0 to 96.32% in the group of fruits without thorns. Biometric evaluations demonstrate that the genotypes studied presented statistically significant differences; which shows that the population has a high genetic potential for germplasm conservation and breeding.