Abstract This work aimed to study the effective population size and genetic gain in a population of robusta coffee (Coffea canephora Pierre) and verify the possibility of using recurrent selection. The experiment comprised 25 treatments, consisting of 21 C. canephora progenies and four C. arabica (cultivars) grown in Brazil. The experimental design was a 5x5 quadruple balanced lattice, with 24 replications, with one plant per plot. Six harvests were performed in each plant. Statistical analysis was carried out using the mixed model methodology. The analysis showed high additive genetic variability, and the magnitude of the additive components prevailed over that of the dominance components. These facts revealed the plant population liability to undergo recurrent selection, whose expected genetic gains were high. Results suggest that the effective population size and inbreeding degree throughout recurrent selection cycles be monitored. During selective cycles, cloning with weak selection is required due to few progenies.

RESUMO. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi o de avaliar a diversidade genética entre plantas nativas e indivíduos de genealogia desconhecida de C. walkeriana, bem como C. loddigesii e C. nobilior, e também avançar na solução do dilema da origem do clone “Orchidglade” de C. walkeriana. Oito locos microssatélites foram utilizados para avaliar a diversidade genética entre indivíduos de C. walkeriana. Os marcadores microssatélites não foram eficientes na determinação da diversidade genética entre os grupos C. walkeriana (nativas e melhoradas). A dificuldade em determinar a distância genética entre os genótipos diferentes pode ser devida a um sistema complexo de reprodução das espécies e devido a uma fraca barreira reprodutiva facilitando o desenvolvimento de híbridos. Nossa análise revelou menores distâncias genéticas entre os clones Orchidglade, “Equilab”, “Kenny” e “Pedentive” e as espécies C. loddigesii e C. nobilior. As C. walkeriana nativas se mostraram geneticamente mais distantes das espécies de C. loddigesii e C. nobilior.

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity among native plants and some individuals obtained from crosses with unknown genealogy of C. walkeriana as well as C. loddigesii and C. nobilior and to advance towards solving the question of the genetic purity of the “Orchidglade” clone. Eight microsatellite loci were used to evaluate the genetic diversity between individuals of C. walkeriana. Microsatellites were not efficient in determining the genetic diversity between C. walkeriana groups (native and improved). The difficulty in determining the genetic distance between the different genotypes can be attributed to the complex mating system of the species and to a weak genetic barrier that facilitates the development of hybrids. Our analysis revealed smaller genetic distances between the “Orchidglade”, “Equilab”, “Kenny” and “Pedentive” clones and the species C. loddigesii and C. nobilior. Native C. walkeriana plants were genetically more distant from the C. loddigesii and C. nobilior species.

A diversidade genética em dez populações de coqueiro gigante do Brasil foi determinada utilizando 13 marcadores microssatélites. Foi detectado um total de 68 alelos, com média de 5,23 alelos por loco. A média da heterozigosidade esperada e observada foi 0,459 e 0,443 respectivamente. O número de locos por população variou de 36 a 48, com média de 40,9 locos. Foram encontrados 12 alelos exclusivos e destes, um foi considerado como alelo raro esporádico e oito como alelos raros localizados. As metodologias de associação dos indivíduos de acordo com a população de referência e com base na análise fatorial de correspondência forneceram resultados semelhantes e permitiram a formação de dois grupos, o primeiro formado pelas populações de Baía Formosa, Georgino Avelino e São José do Mipibu e o segundo pelas populações de Japoatã, Pacatuba e Praia do Forte. Esses resultados revelam um alto nível de diversidade genética nas populações brasileiras.

The tall coconut palm was introduced in Brazil in 1553, originating from the island of Cape Verde. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of ten populations of Brazilian tall coconut by 13 microsatellite markers. Samples were collected from 195 individuals of 10 different populations. A total of 68 alleles were detected, with an average of 5.23 alleles per locus. The mean expected and observed heterozygosity value was 0.459 and 0.443, respectively. The number of alleles per population ranged from 36 to 48, with a mean of 40.9 alleles. We observed the formation of two groups, the first formed by the populations of Baía Formosa, Georgino Avelino and São José do Mipibu, and the second by the populations of Japoatã, Pacatuba and Praia do Forte. These results reveal a high level of genetic diversity in the Brazilian populations.

O objetivo desse artigo é evidenciar que a genética quantitativa contribuiu para o enorme progresso genético obtido nas plantas cultivadas no Brasil, nos últimos quarenta anos. As informações obtidas por meio da genética quantitativa possibilitaram que os melhoristas brasileiros pudessem responder, com muito mais ciência, inúmeras questões do seu trabalho tais como: utilizar cultivares hibrida ou não; qual população segregante utilizar; qual método de melhoramento empregar; alternativas para melhorar a eficiências dos programas de seleção e como manusear os dados das avaliações de progênies e/ou cultivares para se identificar as mais estáveis e assim aprimorar a recomendação.

The purpose of this article is to show how quantitative genetics has contributed to the huge genetic progress obtained in plant breeding in Brazil in the last forty years. The information obtained through quantitative genetics has given Brazilian breeders the possibility of responding to innumerable questions in their work in a much more informative way, such as the use or not of hybrid cultivars, which segregating population to use, which breeding method to employ, alternatives for improving the efficiency of selection programs, and how to handle the data of progeny and/or cultivars evaluations to identify the most stable ones and thus improve recommendations.

O objetivo do trabalho foi investigar a depressão endogâmica (DE) na mamoneira, espécie de reprodução sexuada mista. De uma população derivada da cultivar Guarani, amostraram-se 60 plantas-mãe. De cada uma foram obtidos três tipos de progênies: de autofecundação (AU), de cruzamentos obrigatórios (CR) e de polinização livre (PL). A produtividade de grãos das progênies for avaliada por meio de experimentos em blocos incompletos em dois locais. Houve forte interação de progênies x locais o que levou a obter estimativas dentro de cada local. Verificou-se ampla variação na depressão endogâmica, com médias de 6,7% e 13,4%, comparando-se as progênies AU com as PL. Verificou-se que a população tem alto potencial para selecionar linhagens promissoras. Foi baixa a freqüência de plantas-mãe gerando progênies com alta capacidade geral de combinação e baixa depressão endogâmica, simultaneamente. Seleção recorrente aumentará a ocorrência de genitoras associando essas duas propriedades, necessárias para obtenção de variedades sintéticas superiores.

The purpose of this study was to investigate inbreeding depression (DE) in castor bean. From a population derived from the Guarani cultivar, 60 mother plants were sampled. Three types of progenies were obtained from each one: from self-pollination (AU), from crosses (CR) and from open pollination (PL). Grain yield of the progenies was evaluated in two locations. There was a strong interaction of progenies x locations, which led to obtaining estimates within each location. Broad variation was observed in inbreeding depression, with mean values of 6.7% and 13.4%, comparing AU progenies with PL progenies. It was observed that the population has high potential for selecting promising inbred lines. The frequency of mother plants generating progenies with simultaneous high general combination capacity and low inbreeding depression was low. Recurrent selection will increase the occurrence of parent plants associating these two properties, which is necessary for obtaining superior synthetic varieties.

El estudio de la estructura genética de poblaciones de plantas silvestres es esencial para su manejo y conservación. Varios marcadores de ADN e isoenzimas se han utilizado en este tipo de análisis. Con el fin de proporcionar una mejor comprensión de los resultados obtenidos y saber que marcador codominante elegir para futuros estudios en poblaciones naturales de Oryza glumaepatula, este trabajo busco evaluar y comparar dos marcadores de ADN, isoenzimas y microsatélites, en la diversidad y estructura genética de 13 poblaciones, destacando las similitudes y divergencias de cada marcador, así como la importancia relativa de los resultados en genética de poblaciones y conservación. Para los SSR, ocho loci SSR fueron evaluados, y los fragmentos se visualizaron utilizando el procedimiento de coloración con plata. Los análisis de isoenzimas se realizaron en geles de poliacrilamida, en los seis loci enzimáticos. Los loci SSR mostraron mayores niveles de diversidad genética que los loci isoenzimáticos, en promedio. La diferenciación genética entre los loci SSR (R ST=0.631, equivalente a F ST=0.533) fue inferior a la obtenida con las isoenzimas (F ST=0.772). Ambos marcadores mostraron alta desviación del equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg (F IS=0.744 y 0.899, respectivamente, para SSR e isoenzimas). La tasa media aparente de cruzamiento para SSR ( =0.14) fue mayor que la obtenida con isoenzimas ( =0.043), aunque ambos marcadores detectaron niveles más bajos en la tasa de fecundación cruzada para la Amazonia, en comparación con la región del Pantanal. La estimación de número de migrantes también fue mayor para los SSR (Nm=0.219) que en isoenzimas (Nm=0.074). No se obtuvo ninguna correlación entre las distancias genéticas y geográficas para los SSR, y para las isoenzimas se obtuvo una correlación positiva entre las distancias genéticas y geográficas. Llegamos a la conclusión de que estos marcadores son divergentes en la detección de los parámetros de la diversidad genética en O. glumaepatula y que los microsatélites son más eficientes para detectar la información a nivel intra-poblacional, mientras que las isoenzimas son más potentes para detectar la diversidad entre poblaciones.

The study of the genetic structure of wild plant populations is essential for their management and conservation. Several DNA markers have been used in such studies, as well as isozyme markers. In order to provide a better comprehension of the results obtained and a comparison between markers which will help choose tools for future studies in natural populations of Oryza glumaepatula, a predominantly autogamous species, this study used both isozymes and microsatellites to assess the genetic diversity and genetic structure of 13 populations, pointing to similarities and divergences of each marker, and evaluating the relative importance of the results for studies of population genetics and conservation. A bulk sample for each population was obtained, by sampling two to three seeds of each plant, up to a set of 50 seeds. Amplified products of eight SSR loci were electrophoresed on non-denaturing polyacrylamide gels, and the fragments were visualized using silver staining procedure. Isozyme analyses were conducted in polyacrylamide gels, under a discontinuous system, using six enzymatic loci. SSR loci showed higher mean levels of genetic diversity (A=2.83, p=0.71, A P=3.17, Ho=0.081, He=0.351) than isozyme loci (A=1.20, p=0.20, A P=1.38, Ho=0.006, He=0.056). Interpopulation genetic differentiation detected by SSR loci (R ST=0.631, equivalent to F ST=0.533) was lower than that obtained with isozymes (F ST=0.772). However, both markers showed high deviation from Hardy-Weinberg expectations (F IS=0.744 and 0.899, respectively for SSR and isozymes). The mean apparent outcrossing rate for SSR ( =0.14) was higher than that obtained using isozymes ( =0.043), although both markers detected lower levels of outcrossing in Amazonia compared to the Pantanal. The migrant number estimation was also higher for SSR (Nm=0.219) than isozymes (Nm=0.074), although a small number for both markers was expected due to the mode of reproduction of this species, defined as mixed with predominance of self fertilization. No correlation was obtained between genetic and geographic distances with SSR, but a positive correlation was found between genetic and geographic distances with isozymes. We conclude that these markers are divergent in detecting genetic diversity parameters in O. glumaepatula and that microsatellites are powerful for detecting information at the intra-population level, while isozymes are more powerful for inter-population diversity, since clustering of populations agreed with the expectations based on the geographic distribution of the populations using this marker

Studies on genetic diversity and genetic structure of natural populations are important in order to define strategies for in situ and ex situ conservation actions and for plant pre-breeding programs. Aiming to assess the genetic diversity and genetic structure of three wild American Oryza species with isozyme markers, 14 populations of the diploid O. glumaepatula (AglAgl), 11 populations of the tetraploid O. grandiglumis (CCDD) and five populations of the also tetraploid O. latifolia (CCDD) were studied. They were all originated from Rio Paraguay hydrographic basin and the Amazon. Four enzymes were used and they gave 40 polymorphic bands. The most polymorphic species was O. glumaepatula, followed by O. latifolia and O. grandiglumis. A cluster analysis with the Jaccard similarity coefficient separated the diploid from the two tetraploid species, and also the two tetraploid species. This separation was also evident on a scatter plot from a principal component analysis, suggesting that they should be treated as two separate species, although further studies are necessary to provide support for this affirmative. The AMOVA analyses showed a high intrapopulational variability for O. latifolia (67.6%) and O. grandiglumis (52.2%), when compared to their interpopulational variability (32.4% and 47.8%, respectively), which suggests the hypothesis of a higher degree of outcrossing events within these species. When studying the correlation between the Jaccard dissimilarity coefficient and geographic distances, a spatial genetic structure was observed for O. glumaepatula only. These results are important for defining strategies of both in situ and ex situ conservation.

Foi utilizado um modelo de cruzamento misto multilocos para analisar o sistema de cruzamento de uma população de Couratari multiflora, espécie arbórea emergente encontrada em baixas densidades (1 indivíduo/10 ha) nas florestas de "terra firme" da Amazônia central. Inventariamos e observamos fenologicamente 41 árvores em uma área de 400 ha. Dessas, somente quatro árvores-mãe foram analisadas, pois poucas árvores produziram frutos, os quais também sofreram alta predação. Não foi observada diferença entre a taxa de cruzamento multilocos (t mp = 0,953 ± 0,040) e a taxa média de loco único (t sp = 0,968 ± 0,132). As quatro árvores-mãe apresentaram alta taxa de cruzamento (t m ~ 1). Dois dos cinco locos analisados mostraram desvios das expectativas do Equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg (EHW), e os mesmos resultados ocorreram para o modelo misto de cruzamento. Apesar do baixo número de árvores analisadas, a alta proporção de locos em EHW sugere que a população tenha um sistema de cruzamento aleatório. Entretanto, o conjunto polínico foi heterogêneo entre famílias, provavelmente pelo pequeno número e florescimento das árvores analisadas em diferentes fases da estação de florescimento. A fenologia reprodutiva da população e os resultados apresentados neste estudo sugerem que ao menos parte da população cruza via movimento de pólen de longa distância, em torno de 1.000 m.

A multilocus mixed-mating model was used to evaluate the mating system of a population of Couratari multiflora, an emergent tree species found in low densities (1 individual/10 ha) in lowland forests of central Amazonia. We surveyed and observed phenologically 41 trees in an area of 400 ha. From these, only four mother trees were analyzed here because few of them set fruits, which also suffered high predation. No difference was observed between the population multilocus outcrossing rate (t mp = 0.953 ± 0.040) and the average single locus rate (t sp = 0.968 ± 0.132). The four mother trees were highly outcrossed (t m ~ 1). Two out of five loci showed departures from the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) expectations, and the same results occurred with the mixed-mating model. Besides the low number of trees analyzed, the proportion of loci in HWE suggests random mating in the population. However, the pollen pool was heterogeneous among families, probably due to both the small sample number and the flowering of trees at different times of the flowering season. Reproductive phenology of the population and the results presented here suggest, at least for part of the population, a long-distance pollen movement, around 1,000 m.

O objetivo do trabalho foi relacionar a diversidade genética medida a partir de três diferentes marcadores moleculares, com a variação genética quantitativa de caracteres poligênicos, estimada em ensaio de progênies, sob condições controladas. As progênies, oriundas de dez subpopulações naturais de cagaiteira do sudeste de Goiás, foram avaliadas em experimento em blocos completos casualizados, com quatro repetições e uma planta por parcela. Foram estimadas a herdabilidade ao nível de média de progênies (h mi ²) e o coeficiente de variação genética (CVgi) de cada subpopulação para a altura da planta e o diâmetro do fuste, por quatro anos, bem como para as respectivas taxas de crescimento. Estimativas da diversidade gênica (Hei) e do índice de fixação (f i) foram obtidas com dados de marcadores codominantes e dominantes. Correlação linear e regressão múltipla foram usadas para inferir sobre a associação entre a divergência quantitativa e molecular nos níveis intra e interpopulacional, A fraca correlação entre as medidas de divergência obtidas com marcadores moleculares dominantes e codominantes reduziu a expectativa de correlação positiva entre essas medidas e a diversidade quantitativa. Em geral, não foi confirmada a possibilidade de usar com segurança medidas de divergência molecular intrapopulacional para inferir a variação genética de caracteres quantitativos no nível de precisão que prevaleceu. Com o marcador baseado em maior número de locos (RAPD), verificou-se a possibilidade de uma inferência desse tipo. Em nível interpopulacional, encontrou-se associação mais pronunciada entre a divergência molecular e a quantitativa.

This research aimed to measure the association between molecular diversity and the genetic variation of quantitative traits, estimated from a progeny trial, under controlled conditions. Ten natural subpopulations of cagaita tree from the southeast of Goiás State, Brazil, were investigated. The maternal families were evaluated in a trail using the randomized complete block design with four replications and a single tree per plot. Quantitative data were analyzed estimating the coefficient of heritability (h mi² ), on a progeny mean basis and the genetic coefficient of variation (CVgi) for each subpopulation. The traits considered were: plant height and the respective diameter and the corresponding annual rates of increment. Estimates of gene diversity (Hei) and fixation index (f i), available for the same subpopulations, based on isozymes, SSR and RAPD markers, were taken for comparison. Simple linear correlation and multiple regression analysis were used for measuring the association between those estimates on intra and interpopulation level. The weak correlation between gene diversity estimated with codominant and dominant markers reduced the expectation of a good correlation between those statistics and the genetic variation of the quantitative traits. In general, the possibility to infer the magnitude of quantitative variation within subpopulations, based on molecular gene diversity, was not confirmed. RAPD results were more promising, indicating the importance to have an adequate genomic coverage in this kind of research. On the other hand, the interpopulation level, a much better association was detected for all markers. The possibility of predicting quantitative variation based on molecular information was, therefore, not excluded.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o progresso genético obtido para a produtividade de grãos de genótipos de feijoeiro entre os anos de 1989 a 2007 no Estado de São Paulo. O progresso genético foi desmembrado em períodos de pesquisa de 1989 a 1996 (primeiro período) e de 1997 a 2007 (segundo período). No primeiro período foi obtido um progresso genético relativo de 1,07 % por ano, enquanto que para o segundo período, a estimativa de ganho genético foi igual a zero, mas com produtividade média das linhagens em torno de 1000 kg ha-1 superior ao primeiro período. Foi possível constatar que a principal causa da ausência de progresso genético no segundo período ocorreu após o início dos trabalhos de melhoramento genético para o desenvolvimento de linhagens com melhor qualidade de grãos. A análise separada para genótipos com grão carioca também indicou ausência de ganho genético para o período analisado.

The goal of the present work was to evaluate the genetic gain obtained in grain yield for the common bean genotypes from 1989 until 2007, at the Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, in the state of São Paulo. Genetic gain has been separated into two research periods; the first, from 1989 to 1996, and the second, from 1997 to 2007. In the first period, a genetic gain of 1.07 % per year was obtained, whereas for the second period, the gain was zero. However, the mean yield of the evaluated lines was approximately 1000 kg ha-1 superior to the figures obtained in the first period. The main cause for the absence of genetic gain in the second period is that the focus of the breeding program was changed to grain quality. The individualized analysis of the genotypes with carioca grains in the second period indicated the lack of genetic gain during the investigated period.

Coconut palms of the Tall group were introduced to Brazil from the Cape Verde Islands in 1553. The present study sought to evaluate the genetic diversity among and within Brazilian Tall coconut populations. Samples were collected of 195 trees from 10 populations. Genetic diversity was accessed by investigating 13 simple sequence repeats (SSR) loci. This provided a total of 68 alleles, ranging from 2 to 13 alleles per locus, with an average of 5.23. The mean values of gene diversity (He) and observed heterozygosity (Ho) were 0.459 and 0.443, respectively. The genetic differentiation among populations was estimated at θ = 0.1600 and the estimated apparent outcrossing rate was t a = 0.92. Estimates of genetic distances between the populations varied from 0.034 to 0.390. Genetic distance and the corresponding clustering analysis indicate the formation of two groups. The first consists of the Baía Formosa, Georgino Avelino, and São José do Mipibu populations and the second consists of the Japoatã, Pacatuba, and Praia do Forte populations. The correlation matrix between genetic and geographic distances was positive and significant at a 1% probability. Taken together, our results suggest a spatial structuring of the genetic variability among the populations. Geographically closer populations exhibited greater similarities.

Dipteryx alata is a native fruit tree species of the cerrado (Brazilian savanna) that has great economic potential because of its multiple uses. Knowledge of how the genetic variability of this species is organized within and among populations would be useful for genetic conservation and breeding programs. We used nine simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers developed for Dipteryx odorata to evaluate the genetic structure of three populations of D. alata located in central Brazil based on a leaf sample analysis from 101 adults. The outcrossing rate was evaluated using 300 open-pollinated offspring from 25 seed-trees. Pollen dispersal was measured by parentage analysis. We used spatial genetic structure (SGS) to test the minimal distance for harvesting seeds in conservation and breeding programs. Our data indicate that the populations studied had a high degree of genetic diversity and population structure, as suggested by the high level of divergence among populations . The estimated outcrossing rate suggested a mixed mating system, and the intrapopulation fixation index was influenced by SGS. We conclude that seed harvesting for genetic conservation and breeding programs requires a minimum distance between trees of 196 m to avoid collecting seeds from related seed-trees.

Os melhoristas de plantas em geral conduzem testes genéticos em delineamentos balanceados, ao contrário do que ocorre com o melhoramento animal. É possível selecionar progênies pela ANAVA conjunta, com base nas médias gerais de cada família. Sabe-se, no entanto, que os valores genéticos de progênies são melhor representados por efeitos aleatórios. As formas de análise dos testes de progênie que parecem mais apropriadas são as que seguem a metodologia de modelos mistos, como no melhoramento animal. Segundo Robinson (1991) o Melhor Preditor Linear Não-Viesado (do inglês, BLUP) não é um método, mas uma propriedade dos estimadores (preditores) dos efeitos aleatórios e pode ser derivada de tantas maneiras diferentes que tem o potencial de unificar as teorias estatísticas de modelos lineares. A presença de bons estimadores para os efeitos fixos e componentes da variância torna possível combinar informações de diferentes testes por algumas simplificações do BLUP. Este trabalho exemplifica as vantagens do Melhor Preditor Linear (BLP) aplicado ao melhoramento de plantas. Procurou-se ilustrar como proceder com estimativas de médias e de variâncias de progênies obtidas em diferentes ambientes para produzir preditores que tenham propriedades "melhor" (no sentido de variância mínima entre todas as combinações lineares entre as médias de progênies). Derivou-se uma regra prática para a produção dos pesos relativos de cada ambiente. O BLP, em alguns casos, é também não-viesado produzindo BLUPs a partir de lógica mais direta.

Plant breeders often carry out genetic trials in balanced designs. That is not always the case with animal genetic trials. In plant breeding is usual to select progenies tested in several environments by pooled analysis of variance (ANOVA). This procedure is based on the global averages for each family, although genetic values of progenies are better viewed as random effects. Thus, the appropriate form of analysis is more likely to follow the mixed models approach to progeny tests, which became a common practice in animal breeding. Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) is not a "method" but a feature of mixed model estimators (predictors) of random effects and may be derived in so many ways that it has the potential of unifying the statistical theory of linear models (Robinson, 1991). When estimates of fixed effects are present is possible to combine information from several different tests by simplifying BLUP, in these situations BLP also has unbiased properties and this lead to BLUP from straightforward heuristics. In this paper some advantages of BLP applied to plant breeding are discussed. Our focus is on how to deal with estimates of progeny means and variances from many environments to work out predictions that have "best" properties (minimum variance linear combinations of progenies' averages). A practical rule for relative weighting is worked out.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar parâmetros genéticos de caracteres quantitativos da coleção de germoplasma in vivo de Eugenia dysenterica. O material de estudo foi composto por 110 progênies de dez subpopulações naturais de cagaiteira amostradas na Região Sudeste do Estado de Goiás. O delineamento experimental adotado foi de blocos completos casualizados, com 110 tratamentos, quatro repetições e uma árvore por parcela. As variáveis avaliadas foram altura total, diâmetro do fuste e respectivas taxas de crescimento. Após a análise de variância foram estimados parâmetros genéticos populacionais. As subpopulações naturais de cagaiteira tiveram altos níveis de variação genética e a maior proporção foi verificada dentro de subpopulações. Os maiores coeficientes de herdabilidade e de variação genética ocorreram nas subpopulações dos municípios de Catalão, Três Ranchos, Cristalina e Senador Canedo. Considerando os bons progressos esperados para caracteres de crescimento, essa coleção pode ser convertida em um pomar de sementes por mudas, sem desbaste, visando à produção de sementes melhoradas.

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters of quantitative traits in a living germplasm collection of Eugenia dysenterica. The genetic material consisted of 110 progenies derived from 10 natural Eugenia dysenterica subpopulations sampled in the southeastern region of the state of Goiás. The experiment was established in a complete randomized block design, with 110 treatments, four replications and one tree per plot. The study variables were total height, stem diameter and respective growth rates. After the analysis of variance some genetic parameters were estimated. The levels of genetic variation in the collection were high and the highest proportion was found within subpopulations. Highest coefficients of heritability and genetic variation were observed in subpopulations from the counties Catalão, Três Ranchos, Cristalina and Senador Canedo. Considering the promising expected progress for growth traits, this collection can be converted into an unrogued seedling seed orchard, aiming the production of improved seed.