Seedling emergence and genetic parameters of open-pollinated candeia progenies grown in tree nursery

Abstract

Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeishis economically appreciated due toits wood and to the extraction of its essential oil, whose active principle is alpha-bisabolol. Despite itseconomic importance, studies about thegenetic breeding of this species remainscarce. The aim of the currentstudy isto determine E. erythropappusseedling emergencerate, genetic parameters, as well asto identify potential open-pollinated progenies of this speciesand their respective matrices. The experiment was set up in tree nursery, based ona completely randomized design, with 22 progenies in four replicates comprising14 plants per plot. Seedlingemergence rate was evaluated30 days after seeding, whereas plantheight (H) and stemdiameter (SD)were measured at 100 days. Statistical analyses were carried out based onthe REML/BLUP method. Three progenies have shownseedling emergence rate lower than50%; thisvalue is considered limiting to seedling productionprocess. Genetic variation was observed among progenies, as well ashigh and positive genetic correlation between H and SD. Thus, it was possible identifyingsuperior progenies and matrices,as well as the ones presentinglow performance in the evaluated traits.