Variation among pineapple half-sibs and selecting genitors based on potential genetic divergence

Knowledge about variation and relative importance of agronomic traits for genetic divergence studies can reveal useful information to guide the breeding programs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phenotypic variation, and select of pineapple half-sib seedlings based on genetic divergence of fruit and plant traits. 'Pérola' cultivar (female genitor) received a pollen mix as from cultivars 'MD-2', 'BRS Imperial' and 'BRS Vitória' (male genitors). Four hundred twenty-nine F1 individuals propagated from seeds were evaluated under field conditions. Descriptive statistics, Singh's (1981) relative contribution, and Tocher's cluster optimization methods based on the distances matrix were estimated. Coefficients of variation ranged from 9.89 % to 63.79 %. Regarding total variance, fruit traits grouped 52.69%, while plant traits accumulated 47.30%. These results demonstrated that evaluated traits contribute for half-sib progeny relative discrimination and that none of them should be discarded for studies of diversity. Among the 12 heterotic clusters formed, group VII, IX and VIII are recommended to compose hybridization blocks and evaluation cycles of phenotypic stability for use per se. These groups have a broad heterotic potential, and desirable agronomic traits, mainly regarding to high means for fruit mass without crown (FMWC) upper than 4,000g and soluble solids content (SSC) around 20-21°Brix, which can be used by the IPA’s pineapple breeding program.