Genetic divergence genetic between Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis progenies based on quantitative traits

Abstract

The proposal of this study was to estimate the genetic divergence among Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis progenies through quantitative traits. Trail was established in lattice design 10 x 10, triple, with 100 treatments (96 progenies from clonal seed orchard of P. caribaea var. hondurensis and four controls). The genetic divergence was estimated using the generalized Mahalanobis distance (D²) and Torcher´s optimization method. Diameter at 1.30 above the ground, total plant height, cylindrical volume, total resin production and resin per panel area were evaluated. The largest genetic distance observed between the progenies was 100% (D² = 65.51) and the lowest was 0,09% (D² = 0.15). Clustering by Torcher´s optimization method separated the progeny in four groups, with a concentration of 96.9% of the progenies in a single group. Volume was the largest contributor to the genetic divergence among groups. To include these progeny in breeding programs for resin and wood production controlled crossings should be prioritized among the most productive individuals that presented greater genetic divergence.