Genetic parameters of fruit and seed biometric characteristics in Caesalpinia ebano (Fabaceae)

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the genetic parameters of the biometric characteristics of the fruit and seeds of C. ebano. The investigation was carried out in Montería, Córdoba (Colombia); ten trees were selected and from each, ten fruits taken at random. Variance analysis and estimation of genetic parameters for nine traits were carried out: fresh fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width, fruit thickness, number of seeds/fruit, weight of seeds by fruit, weight of one seed, volume of one seed and density of one seed. Statistical differences (p < 0.01) were detected between trees, for all traits except for width of the fruit and weight of a seed; denoting the existence of genetic variability between trees for fruit weight, fruit length, fruit thickness, number of seeds and density of a seed. The weight and length of the fruit presented the highest family heritability and narrow sense heritability (h2 > 82 % andFamh2 > 30 %). E The expected genetic gain was greater than 10 % in five of the nine studied traits, and greater than 20 % for number of seeds and weight of seeds (27.31 and 27.87 %, respectively). The traits fruit weight and length could be transmitted to successive generations, with greater chance of success, by phenotypic selection of trees.