ABSTRACT Peppers belong to the family Solanaceae and can be used for several different purposes. The use of morphological descriptors associated with multivariate techniques allows identifying pepper progenies that can be recommended for ornamental purposes. This study aimed to select segregating Capsicum annum progenies based on multivariate analyses. The study was conducted in a plant nursery at the Biotechnology and Plant Breeding Sector of the Center of Agricultural Sciences of the Federal University of Paraíba (CCA/UFPB). Twenty F3 progenies of ornamental peppers were used, namely: UFPB 5, 8, 10, 15, 18, 22, 25, 32, 33, 36, 40, 42, 49, 56, 60, 62, 64, 69, 75, and 77, plus four additional controls consisting of the parents UFPB 77.3 and UFPB137 and two commercial cultivars, Etna and Pirâmide. Seventeen plant and fruit traits were evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized. The data were subjected to a multivariate analysis of variance. All analyses were performed with the software R, version 3.0.3. The results of the multivariate analysis of variance highlighted significant differences between the populations of ornamental peppers. Singh’s (1981) method made it possible to determine that eleven of the seventeen traits studied contributed with 73.7% of the genetic divergence, whereas six traits contributed with only 21.2%. There is genetic diversity among the evaluated progenies. Progenies 5, 10, 22, 33, 49, and 69 are recommended for selection for having ornamental traits for in-pot cultivation. Selection within these progenies is recommended to continue the breeding program of ornamental peppers for in-pot cultivation.

RESUMO As pimenteiras pertencem à família Solanaceae e podem ser utilizadas com diferentes finalidades. O uso de descritores morfológicos associados a técnicas multivariadas possibilita identificar progênies de pimenteiras que podem ser recomendadas para fins ornamentais. O objetivo desse trabalho foi selecionar progênies segregante de Capiscum annum com base em análises multivariadas. O trabalho foi realizado em casa de vegetação no Setor de Biotecnologia e Melhoramento Vegetal no Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Foram utilizadas 20 progênies F3 de pimenteiras ornamentais, UFPB: 5, 8, 10, 15, 18, 22, 25, 32, 33, 36, 40, 42, 49, 56, 60, 62, 64, 69, 75 e 77 e quatro testemunhas adicionais, os genitores UFPB 77.3, UFPB137 e duas cultivares comerciais, Etna e Pirâmide. Foram avaliadas 17 características de planta e frutos. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância multivariada. Todas as análises foram realizadas com software R versão 3.0.3. Os resultados da análise de variância multivariada indicaram diferença significativa entre as populações de pimenteiras ornamentais. Através do método de Singh (1981), determinou-se que onze das dezessete características estudadas contribuíram com 73,7 % da divergência genética, enquanto seis características contribuíram com apenas 21,2%. Existe diversidade genética entre as progênies avaliadas. As progênies 5, 10, 22, 33, 49 e 69 são indicadas para seleção por apresentarem características ornamentais de vaso. Recomenda-se a seleção dentro dessas progênies dando continuidade ao programa de melhoramento de pimenteiras ornamentais em vaso.

ABSTRACT Multidimensional scaling is a multivariate analysis technique that can be used to exploit genetic diversity, aiming at the selection of Capsicum genotypes with desirable characteristics for in-pot ornamental purposes. This work aimed to select genotypes with ornamental potential within F4 populations of ornamental pepper plants. Three F4 families were used (17.18, 30.16, and 56.8). The genotype distance matrices were estimated based on qualitative and quantitative descriptors, separately, combining the standardized distances of Gower and Mahalanobis, respectively. The relation of the distance between genotypes was graphically studied through non-metric multidimensional scaling. Kruskal' Stress was used as the measured misadjustment of the nMDS solution. There is genetic diversity within the analyzed families, allowing to practice selection. The selection in family 17.18 of genotypes 6 and 32 is recommended, as well as in family 30.16 of genotypes 22 and 4, and family 56.8 of genotypes 15 and 36, since they present important characteristics for ornamental purposes. The selection of genotypes is more efficient when using mixed data since it provides a more complete genetic diversity in an improvement program.

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to perform a morphological and morphoagronomic analysis of wild Manihot species from a Brazilian semiarid region for inclusion in the collection at the Center for Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba. To characterize the 55 accessions, 12 quantitative and 18 qualitative descriptors were used. A dissimilarity matrix was generated by Mahalanobis generalized distance (D²), and clusters were identified by the UPGMA method. It was possible to verify the formation of 8 dissimilar groups based on morphological characters and 5 groups based on morphometric characters, indicating the presence of genetic diversity among accessions. The evaluated morphometric variable with the greatest relative contribution was the length between the central lobe. Based on the dissimilarity matrix, the accessions 16 x 48 were the most genetically distant accessions, followed by 47 x 49. The accessions 4 Monteiro, 16 Soledad, 38 Boa Vista, 3 Pedra Lavrada, 7 Junco, 10 Barra de Santa Rosa, 21 Monteiro, and 39 Junco are the most promising and can be used as parents in breeding programs for this forage species.

Abstract This study was conducted to identify the allelic interactions and genetic effects involved in genetic control of quantitative traits in Capsicum annuum. Six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) were used to study the variances, means and allelic interactions of 16 quantitative traits evaluated. The additive part of the phenotypic variance found for plant height, number of peppers per plant, days to flowering and days to fruiting lead to the conclusion that phenotypic selection in the F2 generation are likely effective in obtaining genetic gains. According to the reduced model, the traits of canopy width, fruit width and number of seeds per fruit were not influenced by epistatic effects, but only by additive and dominant effects, which allows selection of superior individuals in segregating generations or improvement of these traits by means of hybridization.

Abstract Plant breeding of ornamental peppers (Capsicum spp.) can be supported by biotechnological tools. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of an in vitro culture of immature zygotic embryos (IZE) to reduce the breeding cycle of ornamental pepper (C. annuum) in comparison to the conventional system. Three ornamental pepper genotypes were used: UFPB 001, UFPB 004, and UFPB 099. Embryos at 30 days after selfing were inoculated in MS ½-strength culture medium, and at the same time, seeds were placed to germinate in a commercial substrate. Approximately 215 days are required from selfing until fruit ripening in the conventional system, whereas the IZE system requires an average of 153 days, a decrease of approximately 30% per selection cycle, corresponding to 496 days considering 8 selfing cycles. A decrease in time, labor, and inputs makes the IZE system a suitable tool for shortening the breeding program of ornamentals peppers.

RESUMO O feijão-bravo (Capparis flexuosa) é uma espécie nativa da Caatinga e é utilizada como forrageira, principalmente na estação seca onde parte das espécies vegetais perdem suas folhas. Objetivou-se estudar a diversidade genética dentro e entre populações de feijão-bravo usando marcadores RAPD. O estudo foi realizado no Laboratório de Biotecnologia Vegetal do CCA/UFPB. Foram coletadas folhas de 30 acessos de feijão-bravo/população nos seguintes municípios do estado da Paraíba: Barra de Santa Rosa (BSR), Cuité (C), São João do Cariri (SJC), Damião (D), Baraúna (B) e Picuí (P). A extração de DNA seguiu a metodologia de utilização do CTAB com modificações. Análises de RAPD foram realizadas usando 18 primers e o polimorfismo de fragmentos de DNA amplificados foi visualizado em gel de agarose após eletroforese. Os dados foram submetidos ao Coeficiente de Similaridade Jaccard, agrupados seguindo a UPGMA e calculou-se o Coeficiente de Correlação Cofenética, Estresse e Distorção. 14 primers geraram polimorfismo de banda, no entanto, as populações apresentaram baixo número de locos polimórficos (27 em BSR, 18 em C, 7 em SJC, 9 em D, 0 em B e P) sendo o maior conteúdo de informação polimórfica foi encontrado nos municípios de BSR (9 grupos), C (22 grupos), São João do Cariri (7 grupos) e D (6 grupos). Formou-se 34 grupos na análise interpopulacional. As matrizes formadas apresentaram altos índices de correlação cofenética (0,95 a 0,98), baixo estresse (12,9 a 17,45%) e distorção (3,05%). Portanto, há variabilidade genética entre e dentro de populações de feijão-bravo.

ABSTRACT Brave bean (Capparis flexuosa L.) is a Caatinga species that is used as forage, mainly during the dry season when some plant species lose their leaves. The aim of this study was to assess genetic diversity within and among brave bean populations using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Brave bean leaves were collected from 30 accessions in the following municipalities of Paraíba state, Brazil: Barra de Santa Rosa (BSR), Cuité (C), São João do Cariri (SJC), Damião (D), Baraúna (B), and Picuí (P). DNA extraction followed the standard methodology of CTAB with modifications. RAPD analyses were carried out using 18 primers, and polymorphism of the amplified DNA fragments was visualized using agarose gel electrophoresis. Data were used to calculate Jaccard Similarity Coefficient values, which were then used to group samples with the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean. Cophenetic Correlation Coefficient, Stress, and Distortion Coefficient values were also calculated from these analyses. Band polymorphism was generated with 14 primers, but the sampled populations showed low numbers of polymorphic loci (27 in BSR, 18 in C, 7 in SJC, 9 in D, and 0 in B and P). The highest polymorphic information content was found in samples from the BSR (9 groups), C (22 groups), SJC (7 groups), and D (6 groups) municipalities. In the interpopulation analysis, 34 groups were formed, the matrices of which showed high cophenetic correlations (0.95 to 0.98), but low stress (12.9 to 17.45%) and distortion (3.05%). Therefore, results showed that there was genetic variability both among and within brave bean populations.

RESUMO: Objetivando avaliar a influência de trocas gasosas e da fonte de explante na morfogênese in vitro de pimenteira ornamental, sementes de Capsicum annuum foram desinfestadas e inoculadas em meio de Murashige e Skoog suplementado com vitaminas, mio-inositol, sacarose e ágar. O efeito das trocas gasosas foi avaliado na fase de germinação, utilizando três tipos de vedações nos frascos: tampas de polipropileno rígido (TPR) sem membrana (controle), TPR com um orifício (10mm de diâmetro) coberto com membrana e TPR com dois orifícios cobertos com membranas permeáveis à gases. Na fase de regeneração, segmentos de hipocótilo e cotilédones foram transferidos para o meio de indução de organogênese e os diferentes tipos de vedação foram novamente testados em esquema fatorial. Análises anatômicas de pigmentos fotossintéticos e de características morfológicas foram realizadas. Plântulas cultivadas em frascos com tampas com membranas apresentaram estruturas anatômicas diferenciadas e mais vigorosas. Esses tratamentos resultaram em plântulas maiores, com folhas mais expandidas, maior número de folhas, maior massa fresca e seca e maior quantidade de pigmentos fotossintéticos. O cultivo de C. annuum em frascos com menores trocas gasosas foi mais eficaz na indução de calos. Durante o estágio de regeneração, hipocótilos foram mais eficazes do que cotilédones. O tipo de vedação influenciou nas respostas morfogênicas em pimenteira, demonstrando que o aumento nas trocas gasosas tem um efeito positivo sobre a produção de biomassa e aclimatização das plântulas.

ABSTRACT: The influence of flask sealing and explant source on the in vitro morphogenesis of pepper, were evaluated in Capsicum annuum. Seeds were sterilized and inoculated in Murashige and Skoog media supplemented with vitamins, myo-inositol, sucrose, and agar. Gas exchange was evaluated in the germination stage by comparing 3 flask-sealing systems: rigid polypropylene lids (PLs) without vents, PLs with 1 vent, and PLs with 2 vents covered with membranes. In the regeneration stage, cotyledon and hypocotyl segments were transferred to the organogenesis-inducing media, being the different sealing types also tested in a factorial scheme. Photosynthetic pigments, morphological and hystological analyses were conducted for each treatment. Plants maintained in glass flasks capped with vented lids showed more vigorous growth and differentiated anatomical structures. These treatments resulted in taller plants, higher numbers and more expanded leaves, higher fresh and dry weights, and an increase in photosynthetic pigments. Cultivation of C. annuum in flasks with reduced gas exchange was more effective on callus induction. During the regeneration stage, hypocotyls were more effective than cotyledons. Sealing type influenced the morphogenic responses of pepper, demonstrating that an increase in gas exchange has a positive effect on biomass production and acclimatization of the plantlets.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar progênies de uma população base de pimenteiras (Capsicum annuum L.). Foram utilizadas 54 plantas de uma geração F2 de pimenteiras ornamentais, para se avaliarem os seguintes caracteres morfoagronômicos: altura da planta (AP), diâmetro da copa (DDC), altura da primeira bifurcação (APB), diâmetro do caule (DCL), comprimento da folha (CFL), largura da folha (LFL), comprimento da corola (CDC), comprimento de antera (CANT), comprimento do estilete (CES) e largura da pétala (LAP). O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições. Os dados foram submetidos à Análise de Variância, com posterior agrupamento das médias para o teste de Scott-Knott (p<0,01). Com exceção do CANT, verificaram-se diferenças significativas para os demais descritores, pelo Teste F. O DCL foi o descritor com maior herdabilidade (99,49%), seguido de DDC (96,14%) e APB (94,05%). O caractere DCL apresentou maior variabilidade entre as plantas, formando 13 classes, seguido de DDC, com oito e APB, com seis classes. Quando se utilizaram as técnicas multivariadas, foi possível agrupar as 54 plantas em oito grupos, sendo o grupo 1 o que reuniu maior número de plantas (35). A característica que mais contribuiu para a divergência genética foi o diâmetro do caule (68,97%), seguida pelo diâmetro da copa (9,22%), altura da primeira bifurcação (6,76%) e altura da planta (4,58%). Já as características de flor foram as que menos contribuíram para a variabilidade (10,47%). Houve variabilidade entre as plantas estudadas, sendo possível praticar seleção dentro dessa família, dando continuidade ao Programa de Melhoramento de Pimenteiras.

The objective of this study was to characterize genotypes of a base population of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). We used 54 plants of a F2 generation of ornamental peppers based on the following morphological characteristics: plant height (PH), canopy width (DDC), first bifurcation height (APB), stem width (DCL), stem length (CFL), leaf length, leaf width (LFL), corolla length (CDC), anther length (CANT), style length (CES) and petal width (LAP). The experimental design was in a completely randomized with three replications. Data were analyzed by ANOVA with subsequent grouping by Scott-Knott criteria (p d" 0.01). Except for CANT, there were significant differences for all the other descriptors by F test (p d" 0.01). LTB is the descriptor with the highest heritability (99.49%), followed by DDC (96.14%) and ABS (94.05%). The trait DCL showed the greatest variability among the plants, forming 13 groups, followed by DDC with 8 and APB with 6 groups. Using multivariate analysis it was possible to separate the 54 plants in eight groups. The group 1 was the largest one with 35 genotypes. The stem width (68.97%), canopy width (9.22%), first bifurcation height (6.76%) and plant height (4.58%) had the highest contribution to the variability. The flower traits had the lowest contribution to the variability (10.47%). The results showed that there was variability among genotypes, and then it is possible to perform selection within this family to continue the breeding program of ornamental pepper.

Este trabalho objetivou desinfestar e promover a germinação de sementes de palma doce "in vitro". As sementes foram mergulhadas em álcool a 70% por 1 min. e, posteriormente, imersas em solução de hipoclorito de sódio nas concentrações de 0,0; 0,5; 1,0 e 1,5% com três gotas de Tween 20 por 10 min. e lavadas em quatro águas bidestiladas estéreis. As sementes foram cultivadas em meio MS suplementado com 0,0; 2,5; 5,0; 7,5 e 10,0% de sacarose. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 4 x 5 (quatro concentrações de hipoclorito de sódio e cinco concentrações de sacarose), com cinco repetições. Avaliou-se a contaminação, germinação e crescimento da plântula. Não houve interação significativa entre os fatores, havendo porém, diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos de hipoclorito e concentrações de sacarose (p < 0,01). As concentrações de sacarose não tiveram efeito significativo na contaminação do meio, porém com o aumento dos teores de sacarose houve tendência ao decréscimo na germinação e crescimento da plântula (p < 0,01). Quanto maior a concentração de hipoclorito no meio menor foi a contaminação e maior a germinação e comprimento da plântula (p < 0,01).

This work aimed to promote in vitro seed germination and disinfestation of the sweet cactus. Seeds were submerged in alcohol at 70% for 1 min. and then treated with sodium hypochlorite solution at different concentrations: 0.0; 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5%. After this treatment, the seeds were washed four times in distillated, deionized and autoclaved water. Seeds were inoculated in MS medium with different concentrations of sucrose (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 g L-1). The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial experiment 4 x 5, with five replicates for treatments. Contamination, germination and seedling growth were evaluated. The results of the analysis of variance indicate that there were no significant interactions among factors. There was no significance for sucrose concentrations on contamination but these treatments showed significant differences for seed germination and seedling growth (p < 0.01). At higher sucrose concentrations there was lower germination and smaller seedlings. There were significant differences between the treatments with sodium hypochlorite for all traits analysed (p < 0.01). There was low contamination with the increase in sodium hypochlorite concentrations with higher germination percentage and taller seedlings.