Variance components and heritability of seeds weight of peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth.)

Abstract

This work aimed to analyze the performance of peach palm progenies seeds and to estimate genotypic values (additive and dominant effects) and heritability in the broad sense for seed weight collected in 40 trees. Heritability in the broad sense and not in the narrow sense was considered because a major amount of the variability for seed weight arises from the mother trees. The analysis of variance showed highly significant differences between progenies for seed weight. Heritability in the broad-sense was 0.95. The genetic values accumulated in the ten better trees ranged from 1.73 to 0.25, while genetic percentage gains ranged from 68% to 23%, showing a high amount of genetic variability for seed weight. This characteristic is potentially related to early development that can be considered in a selection program.