GENETIC DIVERSITY OF PASSIFLORA ACCESSIONS BASED ON MORPHOPHYSIOLOGICAL SEED DESCRIPTORS

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to estimate the genetic divergence among Passifloraaccessions based on morphophysiological seed characteristics. Accessions were distributed in a completely randomized design, with four replicates of 25 seeds. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and the means grouped by the Scott-Knott method. The genetic diversity was studied according to the Tocher and UPGMA grouping method based on the Mahalanobis distance (D2) and Canonical Variables. In the cluster analyzes, four groups were formed by the UPGMA and Canonical Variables methods. In the Tocher Optimization method, seven groups were formed. of P. eichleriana, P. suberosa, P. edulis and P. foetida accessions presented the best results for the seed characteristics under study, being indicated for interspecific crosses aiming the selection of materials that present less dormancy and with more vigorous seeds.