Correlations and genetic parameters in crambe cultivated in different spatial arrangements

Abstract

This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters and to identify agronomic traits that are subject to change depending on the spatial arrangement of the crambe plants grown in two years. The study consisted of five experiments, a randomized complete block design, with six treatments and four replications, two row spacing - 0.34 and 0.45 m - and three plant densities - 20, 30, 40 - per meter linear, were studied. The traits plant height (PH), number of tertiary branches (NR), seedpods number per plant (NSP), number of seeds per seedpods (NSS) and weight of 1.000 grains (MMG) were measured. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were compared by Tukeys test at 5% probability. The following genetic parameters were estimated: heritability, genotypic and experimental coefficient of variation, phenotypic, genotypic and environmental correlations. Spacing between rows did not interfere in any income component of crambe. The plant density only influenced the plant height and the number of tertiary branches. Genetic improvement in crambe should focus on AP, since this character has high heritability and presents positive genotypic correlation with NR, NSS and MMG.