The objective of this work was to estimate the genotypic and phenotypic parameters for traits of carrot populations among characters in carrot populations, in order to guide the choice of selection strategies. The experiments were performed at two locations (Lapão, Bahia State and Brasília, Brazil) in the summer of 2004. Nine carrot hybrid populations were evaluated in randomized complete block design with 4 replications and 2 m² treatments. 90 days after sowing, 15 competitive plants per plot were harvested and evaluated individually for the characters yield, root length, green shoulder length, tip type, shoulder type, root diameter, xylem root diameter, relationship among xylem diameter/root diameter, and both xylem and phloem a* color (color parameter determined by colorimetry, varying from green to red). The data were submitted to variance analyses and the heritability in the wide sense of plot average was estimated by medium square and the correlation among the characters. According to the heritability values, for the characters xylem diameter (0.92 and 0.87), color of a* xylem (0.96 and 0.95) and ratio among xylem diameter and root diameter (0.87 and 0.91), strong selection pressure can be applied in the two evaluation places. Larger root yield was associated with larger root diameter and larger xylem diameter, as well as by larger values of the ratio among xylem diameter and root diameter. Thicker roots are associated with smaller a* (content of β-carotene), mainly in relation to the part constituted by the xylem. Therefore, through the correlation values, there exist an indication that selection for larger carotene content cannot be carried out without considering the characters of root diameter, which are important yield components.
Daucus carota L; heritability; β-carotene
