Pequi is a very common tree in Central and Center-East Brazilian territory, known as Cerrado sensu strict, and its fruits are largely appreciated by people that live in these regions. This study was proposed due to the lack of information about environmental and genetic effects on physical attributes expression in pequi fruits. Information on this subject is relevant to favor decisions regarding to domestication and breeding processes of this species. Pequi fruits were collected from populations of Curvelo and São Gonçalo do Rio Preto, State of Minas Gerais, being 15 mother trees per population. These mother trees were selected based on physical attributes that imply their age, being stem diameter at ground level (SD), the main one. Physical attributes were: fruit Total Weight (FTW); Outer Mesocarp Weight (OMW); Putamen Weight per fruit (PW); Putamen Number per fruit (PN) and Pulp Total Weight per fruit (PLTW). There was a mother tree effect for all attributes evaluated, whereas for populations, there was effect only for PN. Correlations among all variables were positive, being some of them significant. Also, correlations between SD and all other variables were positive and some, significant. Results allow the conclusion of high expected gains through vegetative propagation of mother tree selected by means physical fruit attributes: pulp weight can be selected based on putamen weight; the effect of plant age on fruit physical attributes is null or positive, so the selection can be carried out in youth plants.
Caryocar brasiliense Camb.; genetic variability; early selection; phenotypic correlation
