Topcross hybrids in papaya (Carica papaya L.): evaluation of the potential for increasing fruit quality in new cultivars

ABSTRACT

Multivariate analyzes such as selection indexes are one of the ways to select superior papaya genotypes with adequate quality to the consumer market, becoming more efficient after inferences made in the population from the estimate of genetic parameters. Thus, this study aimed to estimate genetic parameters and select papaya topcross hybrids for traits related to fruit quality through selection indexes. The analysis of variance was performed, and the genetic parameters and means test were estimated. The indexes of Smith and Hazel, Pesek and Baker, Mulamba and Mock, and Williams were applied to determine the genetic gains. The genetic parameters indicated a greater environmental influence for firmness, and soluble solids content, where the fruit weight presented the highest genetic variation. The selection showed a reduction in gains for at least one of the essential traits in the quality of the fruits, such as fruit and pulp firmness, soluble solids content, or pulp volume percentage. The Mulamba and Mock index demonstrated satisfactory gains for all these traits with minimal reduction in the others, which is considered the most appropriate for the selection of eight papaya hybrids (UCHJ16-014, UCHJ16-034, UCHJ16-006, UCHJ16-026, UCHJ16-013, UCHJ16-012, UCHJ16-025, and UCHJ16-016).

KEYWORDS:

• Digital phenotyping
• selection gain
• selection index
• genetic improvement
• multicollinearity

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Caliman Agrícola S/A company, for financing the experiment. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. We also thank the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) and Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense – Darcy Ribeiro, for providing the scholarships.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest.

Supplementary material

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