Genetic dissimilarity among 31 watermelon genotypes was evaluated through the canonic analysis and cluster analysis (Tocher Method and Ward Method) based on Mahalanobis distance (D²ii') Thirty lines obtained from accesses collected in the Northeast of Brazil and the cultivar Crimson Sweet were evaluated to determine the number of days to appearance of the first male and female flower (NDM and NDF); number of shoots to the appearance of the first male and female flower (NGM and NGF); number of fruits per plant (NFP); length of the main vine (CRP); fruit mean weight (PMF); total solid soluble content (TSS); transversal and axial fruit diameter (DTF and DLF) and rind thickness average (EMC). The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with three replicates and seven plants per plot. The characteristics that contributed more to the genetic dissimilarity among the genotypes were number of fruit per plant, axial diameter of fruit, total solid soluble content and fruit mean weight. Three clusters were formed by Tocher's optimization method and by the Ward Method, while four clusters were formed by the graphic dispersion, based on two first canonic variables. In the last case, cluster I was composed of seven lines from Pernambuco and one line from Bahia; cluster II was formed by all the 21 lines from Maranhão; clusters III and IV were composed of line 97-0247.008 (Pernambuco) and of 'Crimson Sweet', respectively. Lines 87-019.021 and 87-019.022 were the closest related, while line 87-019.023 and Crimson Sweet presented the biggest dissimilarity by the Mahalanobis distance (D²ii'). The hybridization among 'Crimson Sweet' and the lines from the cluster II will be the most promising. Hybridization among 'Crimson Sweet' and the lines from cluster I will be interesting to obtain populations of prolific plants, which give small fruits.
Citrullus lanatus; multivariated analysis; cluster analysis; canonic analysis
