The objectives of this work were to obtain information related to the components of means of cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.) populations, through partial diallel analysis, and verify the potential per se of two distinct groups of parents, one of them made up by clones of dwarf cashew tree (CCP06, CCP76, CCP09 e CCP1001) and the other one by common cashew tree (CP07, CP12, CP77, CP96 e BTON), and the heterosis of their respective hybrid combinations. A randomized complete block experimental design with four replications was used. The traits evaluated were plant height, canopy diameter, number of cashew nut/plant, cashew nut yield, mean weight of cashew nut, mean weight of kernel and weight of kernel/weight of cashew nut ratio. It was found that parent effects and heterosis were important components of the means of the populations under study for all traits. Among the heterotic components, average heterosis presented itself as the most important, pointing out the presence of dominance and marked genetic divergence between the two groups. Only for the traits nuts number and yield the specific combining ability was significant. Hybrid combinations CCP76 x CP07, CCP09 x BTON and CCP09 x CP77 are the most promising, enabling establishment of base populations for breeding programs of cashew tree.
Anacardium occidentale; genotypes; parents; hybridization; heterosis; clones; plant breeding; breeding methods
