The multivariate techniques to estimate the genetic diversity of a group of progenitors has been used by plant breeders. The progenitors are still being used in parental or multiple crossings to form segregating populations that have larger probability of recovering superior genotypes. This work was carried out with the objective of identifying guarana clones with high production and divergent clones that can be used in a crossing program in order to obtain hybrids with heterosis, as well as materials for vegetative propagation. One hundred and forty-eight clones of guarana in use at this moment in the genetic breeding program of Embrapa-Centro de Pesquisa Agroflorestal da Amazônia Ocidental were studied. To estimate the genetic divergence, the cluster analysis was used in which the measure of dissimilarity used was the euclidian average standardized distance and the Tocher's method of grouping and a single linkage method to make up a dendrogram between groups of clones. There was formation of seven divergent groups. It was concluded that the genetic divergence between the clones is not large because two groups with two clones and three groups with one clone have been formed. The CMU384 and CMU801 clones were the genetically closest and could be used to form a population with uniform vegetative development for use in commercial plantations.
Paullinia cupana; genetic distance; crossbreeding; hybrids; plant population; breeding methods
