SELECTION AMONG SEGREGATING PEPPER PROGENIES WITH ORNAMENTAL POTENTIAL USING MULTIVARIATE ANALYSES¹

SELEÇÃO ENTRE PROGÊNIES SEGREGANTES DE PIMENTEIRAS COM POTENCIAL ORNAMENTAL UTILIZANDO ANÁLISES MULTIVARIADAS

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.

Keywords:
Capsicum ; Breeding; Variability

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.

Palavras-chave:
Capsicum ; Melhoramento; Variabilidade

INTRODUCTON

In the last few years, the flower and ornamental plant sector has shown an increasing demand in Brazil (IBRAFLOR, 2018). Peppers are among the plants with ornamental potential, belonging to the genus Capsicum and the family Solanaceae (PICKERSGIL, 1997; STOMMEL; BOSLAND, 2006), with wide genetic diversity and a great variety of uses (NEITZKE et al., 2016). This is one of the most important crops worldwide due to its high versatility and a wide spectrum of uses in the industry, as food (SILVAR; GARCÍA-GONZÁLEZ, 2017; BARCHENGER; LAMOUR; BOSLAND, 2018.), and also as ornamental plants (RÊGO; RÊGO, 2016; 2018). Furthermore, peppers are autogamous species easily propagated by seeds, with short vegetative phases and high aesthetical value (RÊGO et al., 2012; RÊGO; RÊGO, 2018; NASCIMENTO et al., 2019).

Aiming at meeting the demands of a growing market, breeders and producers have been encouraged to develop new cultivars with attractive traits for ornamental purposes (RÊGO; RÊGO, 2016). Therefore, the search for peppers with ornamental potential has grown due to attributes that provide these plants with an excellent aesthetical value, such as variegated foliage, compact size, and fruits with various colors in the different maturation stages, contrasting with the leaves (MELO et al., 2014; RÊGO; RÊGO, 2018; PESSOA et al., 2018), in addition to remarkable adaptability to smallersized pots.

The genetic variability among Capsicum species is the basic condition for the genetic improvement of this genus, allowing its use and knowledge for the development of new pepper varieties.

Breeding programs are based on the presence of variability for the trait meant to be improved; genetic divergence studies are extremely important in these programs in order to identify superior genotypes and/or progenies with traits of interest (CRUZ; REGAZZI; CARNEIRO, 2012; PESSOA et al., 2018).

In order to obtain new and superior pepper strains, it is necessary to perform selection during successive self-fertilization cycles in segregating populations (MESQUITA et al., 2016; PESSOA et al., 2019). Variability studies with ornamental peppers are based on plant, flower, and fruit traits, evaluating qualitative and quantitative data (BARROSO et al., 2012; SILVA NETO et al., 2014; COSTA et al., 2016; LIMA et al., 2019; FORTUNATO et al., 2019; PESSOA et al., 2019; NASCIMENTO et al., 2019). Through morphological characterization, it is possible to assess the genetic divergence of a set of available genotypes for use in genetic improvement programs (ELIAS et al., 2007).

Selecting these individuals requires evaluating the genetic divergence using biometric models, which are based on multivariate techniques that allow combining the multiple data of a set of traits (CRUZ; CARNEIRO, 2006; MESQUITA et al., 2016).

In view of this, this study aimed to select segregating progenies of Capsicum annuum based on multivariate analyses.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was conducted in a plant nursery of the Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology of the Center of Agricultural Sciences (CCA) of the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), in Areia - PB, at an elevation of 618 m, 06° 57' 48'’ S and 35° 41' 30'’W.

The plant material consisted of 20 progenies of an F₃ generation of ornamental peppers (C. annuum L.) (5, 8, 10, 15, 18, 22, 25, 32, 33, 36, 40, 42, 49, 56, 60, 62, 64, 69, 75, and 77), belonging to the Active Germplasm Bank of the genus Capsicum of UFPB, originated from the controlled self-fertilization of accessions selected from an F₂ generation, which, in turn, were obtained from the self-fertilization of F₁, originated from the cross between the parent individuals UFPB 77.3 x UFPB 137 (Table 1). Selections were made by the genealogic method; each population analyzed in this study consisted of 20 individuals, in addition to four controls: parents UFPB 77.3 and UFPB 137, and the commercial varieties Etna and Pirâmide; each control had 15 replications.

Sowing was performed in expanded polystyrene trays with 200 cells filled with the commercial substrate Plantmax HT^®. At 35 days after sowing, when the seedlings had three pairs of true leaves, they were transplanted to 900-mL plastic pots containing the same substrate. The plants were irrigated daily with water and once a week with a nutrient solution (MESQUITA et al., 2016).

The morpho-agronomic characterization was performed according to the guidelines contained in the descriptor of the genus Capsicum proposed by IPGRI (1995), with the aid of a caliper (Western^®) and a semi-analytical balance (Bel engineering^®).

Seventeen plant and fruit morphological descriptors were used. The following plant traits were evaluated: plant height (AP), crown diameter (AC), first bifurcation height (APB), stem diameter (DCAU), leaf length (CFO), and leaf width (LFO). The fruit traits evaluated were: pedicel length (CPE), fruit weight (PF), fruit length (CF), largest fruit diameter (MDF), smallest fruit diameter (MEDF), pericarp thickness (EP), placenta length (CPL), fresh matter (MF), number of seeds (NS), dry matter (MS), and number of fruits (NF).

Table 1
Means of the quantitative traits of parents and hybrids of ornamental peppers (Capsicum annuum L.).

Genotypes/UFPB	Traits
	AP	AC	APB	DCAU	CFO
77.3	32.25	35.12	15.87	0.63	5.68
137	22.68	30.50	10.68	0.73	5.86
77.3 X 137	21.25	28.81	10.00	0.63	5.11
Genotypes /UFPB			Traits
	LFO	PFR	CF	NS	NF
77.3	1.87	0.33	0.99	29.00	119.37
137	1.83	1.76	2.28	61.00	42.62
77.3 X 137	1.64	1.73	2.43	50.50	68.00

• A P – Plant height (cm); AC – crown diameter (cm); APB – first bifurcation height (cm); DCAU – stem diameter (cm); CFO – leaf length (cm); LFO – leaf width (cm); PFR – fruit weight (cm); CF – fruit length (cm); NS – number of seeds; and NF – number of fruits per plant.

The experimental design was completely randomized, and the experimental unit consisted of one plant per pot. The data were subjected to a multivariate analysis of variance. The use of multivariate techniques is one of the factors that have boosted the number of studies on the genetic diversity among genotypes. Multivariate analysis has been employed for both quantitative and qualitative traits, allowing the breeder to better discriminate between genotypic and phenotypic divergence in several plant species (OLIVEIRA; SCAPIM; CASALI, 1998; COSTA et al., 2006; NASCIMENTO et al., 2011; VIANA; RESENDE, 2014).

In order to quantify the relative contribution of the traits to genetic divergence, Singh’s (1981) criterion was used based on the generalized Mahalanobis distance matrix. Subsequently, canonical discriminant variables were constructed, whose mean scores for each family were presented in the two-dimensional space using the biplot method. The Scott-Knott criterion was used to classify the genotypes based on the scores of the first canonical variable. All analyses were performed with the software R, version 3.0.3 (R DEVELOPMENT CORE TEAM, 2014).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results of the multivariate analysis of variance indicated a significant difference at 0.001% of significance by the F-test, demonstrating the existence of a differentiated behavior among the progenies and variability for the morphoagronomical traits (Table 2). The presence of variability verified in these populations favors the development of new pepper cultivars with ornamental potential.

Table 2
Summary of the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) for morpho-agronomic traits in populations of ornamental peppers (Capsicum annuum L.).

S.V.	DOF	Pillai statistics	F statistics	DOF Num	DOF Den	p value
Populations	23	5.1	8.2	391	7412	2.2 10-16; ***
Residuals	436

• ^***
  significant at 0.001%.

Pessoa et al. (2019) and Fortunato et al. (2019) also reported significant differences in their studies with segregatingCapsicum progenies. These results highlight the existence of genetic variability and the possibility of performing selection among progenies in order to maximize genetic gain (FERRÃO et al., 2011; PESSOA et al., 2018). Variability is essential in the selection of individuals for generation advancement.

Through Singh’s (1981) method, it was determined that eleven of the seventeen traits studied contributed with 73.7% of the genetic divergence, while six traits contributed with only 21.2% (Figure 1).

Of the studied traits, the ones that most contributed to genetic divergence among the evaluated progenies were leaf length (11.1%), pedicel length (9.1%), largest fruit diameter (8.3%), placenta length (7.8%), plant height (7.1%), number of fruits (6.6%), and first bifurcation height (6.4%) (Figure 1).

These results can assist in the selection of superior progenies and genotypes, attributing importance to the referred traits in the selection of ornamental peppers (NASCIMENTO et al., 2019). These traits that showed the greatest contributions demonstrated that, even in F2:3, there is still much variability, and these traits should be considered for discriminating between the progenies.

Figure 1
Relative contribution of the morphological descriptors with the calculation of the Mahalanobis distances according to Singh’s criterion for the morpho-agronomic traits of Capsicum annuum L. Plant height (AP), crown diameter (AC), first bifurcation height (APB), stem diameter (DCAU), leaf length (CFO), and leaf width (LFO). The fruit traits evaluated were: pedicel length (CPE), fruit weight (PF), fruit length (CF), largest fruit diameter (MADF), smallest fruit diameter (MEDF), pericarp thickness (EP), placenta length (CPLA), fresh matter (MF), number of seeds (NS), dry matter (MS), and number of fruits (NF).

The variables that contributed the least to genetic divergence by Singh’s method were fresh matter (2.2%), leaf width (3.0%), dry matter (3.8%), and pericarp thickness (4.0%) (Figure 1), promoting low-magnitude contributions (Figure 1). Some authors report that these variables that showed low contributions are prone to be discarded in future studies for not contributing to genotype differentiation in diversity studies (CRUZ; REGAZZI; CARNEIRO, 2012). However, these low contributions can be explained by the fact that these progenies show an advanced degree of homozygosis in some traits due to the advanced generation.

The relative importance of the canonical variables was measured by the percentage of their eigenvalues in relation to the total of eigenvalues, that is, the percentage of the total variance that they explain.

In the analysis of the canonical variables, genetic diversity was detected among the ornamental pepper progenies, and the first three variables explained 79.29% of the total variance (Table 3).

The results of the canonical variables were satisfactory and should be used in future analyses, considering that total variations over 70% were obtained in the first three variables (Table 3), allowing the group analysis of the progenies using the scatter plot. Similar results were observed by Pessoa et al. (2018), Nascimento et al. (2019), and Fortunato et al. (2019) in genetic divergence studies with segregating ornamental pepper progenies, observing that the first three canonical variables explained more than 70% of the total variation. This value suggests that the graphic representation of the three canonical variables may be appropriate to demonstrate the relationship between and within progenies (FORTUNATO et al., 2019).

According to Bento et al. (2007), when the first three canonical variables explain more than 70% of the variation, the data fit into a three-dimensional graphic representation, allowing the separation of progenies and being able to be used as a strategy to select divergent genotypes.

Table 3
Estimates of the variances (eigenvalues) associated with the canonical variables referring to the morphoagronomical traits in ornamental pepper (C. annuum L.) populations.

Canonical variables	Eigenvalues	Eigenvalues %	Cumulative %
CV1	10.75	48.40	48.40
CV2	4.34	19.53	67.93
CV3	2.52	11.36	79.29
CV4	1.58	7.11	86.41
CV5	0.75	3.41	89.82
CV6	0.55	2.47	92.30
CV7	0.48	2.18	94.48
CV8	0.45	2.03	96.51
CV9	0.26	1.19	97.71
CV10	0.18	0.84	98.56
CV11	0.12	0.54	99.10
CV12	0.08	0.38	99.48
CV13	0.05	0.23	99.71
CV14	0.03	0.16	99.87
CV15	0.01	0.05	99.93
CV16	0.01	0.04	99.98
CV17	0.01	0.02	100.00

Under the conditions of this study, the traits that most contributed to variability were the largest fruit diameter (CAN1) and pedicel length (CAN2) (Table 4). According to the weighting coefficients, the traits that contributed the least to genetic diversity were the number of seeds (CAN1) and fresh matter (CAN2) (Table 4).

These traits should be discarded in future studies since, in the analysis of canonical variables, the traits that show the highest weighting coefficients are discarded (CRUZ; FERREIRA; PESSONI, 2011), saving time, work, and financial resources in future studies (NASCIMENTO et al., 2019; YOKOMIZO; NETO; OLIVEIRA, 2017).

Table 4
Weighting coefficients (eigenvalues) associated with the canonical variables of the 17 traits in ornamental pepper (C. annuum L.) populations.

Traits	CAN1	CAN2	CAN3
AP	0.01	0.23	-0.43
AC	-0.07	0.12	-0.44
APB	-0.06	0.36	0.24
DCAU	-0.03	-0.04	0.43
CFO	-0.33	-0.58	0.27
LFO	0.01	0.13	-0.23
CPE	0.24	0.56	0.09
PF	0.06	-0.13	0.37
CF	-0.12	0.04	-0.04
MEDF	0.69	-0.31	-0.29
MADF	0.33	-0.01	-0.14
EP	0.09	0.17	-0.05
CPLA	-0.13	0.55	0.59
MF	0.60	-0.62	-0.07
NS	-0.60	0.07	-0.11
MS	-0.44	0.11	0.06
NF	-0.26	-0.13	-0.29

• Plant height (AP), crown diameter (AC), first bifurcation height (APB), stem diameter (DCAU), leaf length (CFO), and leaf width (LFO). The fruit traits evaluated were: pedicel length (CPE), fruit weight (PF), fruit length (CF), largest fruit diameter (MADF), smallest fruit diameter (MEDF), pericarp thickness (EP), placenta length (CPLA), fresh matter (MF), number of seeds (NS), dry matter (MS), and number of fruits (NF).

The variability retained by the first canonical variable was 48.4%. However, the second canonical variable resulted in 19.5% (Figure 2). The discriminant analysis was able to identify a significant variation among the ornamental pepper progenies.

Figure 2
Dispersion of the scores of the first two canonical variables (CAN1 and CAN2) obtained based on the morphoagronomic traits of 24 ornamental pepper populations (C. annuum L.). Plant height (AP), crown diameter (AC), first bifurcation height (APB), stem diameter (DCAU), leaf length (CFO), and leaf width (LFO). The fruit traits evaluated were: pedicel length (CPE), fruit weight (PF), fruit length (CF), largest fruit diameter (MADF), smallest fruit diameter (MEDF), pericarp thickness (EP), placenta length (CPLA), fresh matter (MF), number of seeds (NS), dry natter (MS), and number of fruits (NF).

This variation verified among the progenies is the raw material for genetic improvement, so it is necessary to perform selection in the advancement of segregating generations (PESSOA et al., 2019).

According to the graphic dispersion of the progenies in the two-dimensional space using the first canonical variables, it was evidenced that the traits of plant height, crown diameter, first bifurcation height, leaf width, pedicel length, pericarp thickness, and placenta length contributed more to the distance between the populations of ornamental peppers (Figure 2). The plant traits contributed the most to the distance between progenies, being able to select populations with different use potentialities; for example, those with smaller sizes are recommended for in-pot cultivation (BARROSO et al., 2012; PESSOA et al., 2018).

Similar results were found by Silva et al. (2014) when working with C. annuum, reporting that the traits that contributed the most to diversity were also the traits related to the plant. These results coincide with those obtained by Mesquita et al. (2016), who reported that the traits of crown diameter, leaf width, and first bifurcation height contributed the most to the distance between the F₃ populations of ornamental peppers. Using the plant traits, it is possible to select genotypes with desirable ideotypes for in-pot ornamental cultivation, with small size and low bifurcations, providing a harmonious relationship when associated with crown and pot height and diameter and providing the plants with greater aesthetical quality (SEGATTO; MATTIUZ; MOZAMBANI, 2006). Although they are segregating populations, it is already possible to select families with superior traits compared to the cultivars already available in the market.

According to the Scott-Knott test at 5% probability, a large number of groups was originated (Figure 3), in addition to the formation of groups with only one progeny; these progenies showed greater dissimilarity (VASCONCELOS et al., 2007). The number of groups established is an indication of the wide variability that exists within progenies. This variability is important for selecting genotypes with ornamental potential (SILVA NETO et al., 2014; PESSOA et al., 2015).

It was possible to observe that the additional controls formed different groups (Figure 3), which was expected since more homogenous groups are formed in the Scott-Knott test. This justifies that the additional controls exhibit different traits in relation to the segregating populations.

Figure 3
Grouping according to the Scott-Knott criterion for 20 Capsicum annuum populations and four additional controls performed based on the canonical analysis and the generalized distance of Mahalanobis. Group 1- Pirâmide; Group 2- 137; Group 3- Etna; Group 4- 77.3; Group 5- 5; Group 6- 22; Group 7- 25, 10, and 77; Group 8- 33, 40, 49, 69, 56, and 62; Group 9- 60, 64, 8, 18, 32, 75, 36, 42, and 15.

Group 1 was formed by the additional control Pirâmide (Figure 3), a commercial variety consisting of small plants with low bifurcations, fruits with a thicker pericarp, and larger pedicels (Table 5). The parent UFPB 137, used as a control, formed Group 2 (Figure 3), consisting of small plants with small leaves and light fruits (Table 5). On the other hand, the additional control Etna formed Group 3 (Figure 3), with tall plants, high bifurcations, and fewer fruits. In turn, the parent 77.3, used as a control, constituted Group 4 (Figure 3), with similar characteristics to Group 3, showing tall plants with high bifurcations, in addition to lower values for stem diameter (Table 5). The specific characteristics of the controls distanced them from the remaining progenies and allowed the formation of different groups.

Group 5 was formed by population 5, and Group 6 was formed by population 22 (Figure 3), constituting progenies that resulted in small plants with low bifurcations (Table 5). Progenies with low bifurcations are desirable for breeding programs of ornamental peppers for in-pot cultivation to reduce plant size (NASCIMENTO et al., 2019) and allow cultivation in relatively small containers without compromising plant growth and development.

Group 7 gathered progenies 25, 10, and 77, while Group 8 gathered progenies 33, 40, 49, 69, 56, and 62 (Figure 3). Some progenies stand out for being smaller compared to other progenies of the same group, such as progenies 10, 33, 49, and 69, besides showing plants with large leaves and fruits (Table 5). Smaller ornamental pepper plants with small leaves are better harmonized with smaller fruits, while plants with large leaves are better harmonized with larger fruits. This set of traits is what makes plants attractive to customers (PINTO et al., 2010).

Table 5
Means of 17 plant and fruit quantitative traits evaluated in 20 populations of ornamental pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and four additional controls. CCA-UFPB, Areia, 2018.

Family	AP	AC	APB	DCAU	CFO	LFO	CPE	PF		CF
5	25.10	28.83	10.15	0.66	3.74	1.68	1.37	1.16		1.56
8	33.10	32.50	14.45	0.71	4.31	1.78	1.24	0.75		1.22
10	21.10	26.35	8.46	0.80	3.59	1.51	0.99	0.77		1.27
15	29.65	32.38	12.05	0.79	4.16	1.88	0.93	0.62		1.20
18	34.55	30.23	14.00	0.81	4.11	1.84	1.01	0.54		1.03
22	20.83	28.16	9.20	0.51	3.22	1.52	0.98	0.92		1.33
25	27.80	28.60	14.25	0.73	4.05	1.75	1.20	0.66		1.03
32	29.95	29.13	12.90	0.77	3.91	1.71	0.86	0.53		0.92
33	21.75	24.03	10.55	0.76	3.60	1.63	0.90	0.65		1.02
36	32.93	31.63	13.77	0.75	4.11	1.76	1.01	0.74		1.30
40	27.08	27.68	11.83	0.80	4.17	1.68	1.19	0.73		1.14
42	27.25	27.70	13.45	0.71	3.65	1.58	0.86	0.55		1.02
49	23.40	24.80	10.68	0.67	3.09	1.35	1.12	0.74		1.28
56	28.15	27.70	14.43	0.75	3.84	1.77	1.09	0.67		1.09
60	29.28	27.13	15.30	0.78	3.63	1.64	0.98	0.51		1.06
62	32.65	30.88	15.80	0.69	3.52	1.57	1.11	0.59		1.26
64	29.60	28.63	14.13	0.76	3.48	1.50	0.85	0.36		0.71
69	24.50	28.20	12.15	0.76	4.03	1.81	1.21	0.83		1.45
75	36.30	30.38	17.58	0.85	4.50	2.04	1.24	0.54		1.18
77	29.70	31.03	11.05	0.73	4.23	1.85	1.02	0.95		1.32
UFPB77.3	45.80	40.13	15.33	0.58	1.94	0.99	2.01	0.24		0.75
Etna	28.13	23.73	20.23	0.74	2.05	1.03	2.63	1.10		2.03
Pirâmide	23.47	26.67	8.97	0.60	2.21	1.10	1.83	2.32		1.92
UFPB137	25.73	25.40	11.83	0.60	1.10	1.38	1.96	0.80		1.42
Family	MDF	MEDF	EP	CPLA	MF	NS	MS		NF
5	0.82	0.40	0.07	1.07	0.90	28.00	0.14		63.90
8	0.65	0.33	0.04	0.84	0.49	35.00	0.08		124.60
10	0.63	0.31	0.06	0.90	0.60	26.00	0.09		98.05
15	0.51	0.26	0.04	0.82	0.40	24.00	0.07		164.05
18	0.53	0.29	0.06	0.70	0.39	25.00	0.07		118.15
22	0.80	0.39	0.05	0.96	0.61	31.00	0.09		93.00
25	0.69	0.37	0.05	0.71	0.48	26.00	0.08		108.90
32	0.50	0.27	0.05	0.62	0.38	24.00	0.06		129.05
33	0.58	0.30	0.06	0.73	0.49	26.00	0.08		109.55
36	0.56	0.29	0.05	0.92	0.53	25.00	0.09		144.10
40	0.65	0.34	0.05	0.84	0.51	30.00	0.09		98.90
42	0.51	0.27	0.04	0.70	0.36	26.00	0.06		154.05
49	0.60	0.29	0.08	0.83	0.57	32.00	0.08		155.15
56	0.57	0.29	0.05	0.71	0.48	27.00	0.07		128.85
60	0.55	0.28	0.05	0.71	0.37	24.00	0.06		149.25
62	0.51	0.26	0.04	0.81	0.45	19.00	0.07		115.10
64	0.50	0.31	0.05	0.49	0.25	21.00	0.05		169.20
69	0.56	0.26	0.07	1.08	0.63	23.00	0.10		109.25
75	0.55	0.29	0.04	0.79	0.36	25.00	0.07		103.25
77	0.63	0.29	0.04	0.90	0.73	23.00	0.11		93.30
UFPB77.3	0.66	0.41	0.07	0.52	0.16	17.00	0.04		116.40
Etna	0.81	0.40	0.08	1.60	0.73	29.00	0.12		18.00
Pirâmide	1.65	0.73	0.14	1.16	0.87	29.00	0.20		25.13
UFPB137	1.06	0.50	0.11	0.93	0.67	30.00	0.07		48.93

• AP= plant height; AC= crown diameter; APB= first bifurcation height; DCAU= stem diameter; CFO= leaf length; LFO= leaf width; CPE= pedicel length; PF= fruit weight; CF= fruit length; MDF= largest fruit diameter; MEDF= lowest fruit diameter; EP= pericarp thickness; CPLA= placenta length; MF= fresh matter; NS= number of seeds; MS= dry matter; NF= number of fruits.

However, Group 9 was formed by progenies 60, 64, 8, 18, 32, 75, 36, 42, and 15 (Figure 3), with plants showing high means for crown diameter, size, and bifurcations (Table 5). Barroso et al. (2012) report that, for in-pot ornamental peppers, crown diameter and plant height should correspond to 1.5 to 2 times the pot size. In this study, the ideal size would be from 21.10 to 25.73 for plant height and from 24.03 to 28.83 for the diameter since the pots used in this study had 16 cm and 13 cm of diameter and height, respectively. Progenies with taller plants are not interesting for in-pot ornamental cultivation, being recommended for open environments.

Based on these analyses, it was possible to verify the existence of genetic divergence among the progenies as well as the possibility of genetic gains in later selections (PESSOA et al., 2019). These results allow selecting contrasting families to advance generations and continue the breeding program of ornamental peppers.

CONCLUSION

There is genetic diversity among the evaluated F₃ progenies of Capsicum annuum.

The methods used in this study were efficient to represent the genetic divergence among ornamental pepper progenies.

The Scott-Knott grouping method is recommended to assess the diversity in F₃ progenies of ornamental peppers for showing greater data variability for the different traits evaluated.

Progenies 5, 10, 22, 33, 49, and 69 are recommended for selection due to their superior ornamental traits for in-pot cultivation compared to the remaining progenies analyzed. Selection within these progenies is recommended to continue the breeding program of ornamental peppers for in-pot cultivation.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  15 Sept 2021
• Date of issue
  Jul-Sep 2021

History

• Received
  08 June 2020
• Accepted
  11 Mar 2021