The Variance components and their proportional participation in general variance of characters in West Indian cherry genotypes from Itápolis, Viradouro and Jaboticabal-SP-Brazil, were estimated. The Leaf, fruit and other plant characteres were evaluated from December/1997 to January/1999. The Models with clones, time and clones x time were used when there were two plants by clone; and with genotypes and time, when there was only one plant by genotype. Significant differences were verified in clones, time and clones x time in all characteres, except in length of leaves (CMFO), pulp profit (RMF20FR) and days in crop which were significant in specific factors. The enviromental variance has a larger influence on the following characteres: width of leaves (LMFO), pulp weight, vitamin C contents (VITC), RMP20FR and growth of branches. The proportional large genetic variance components in CMFO, LMFO, plant height, treetop diameter, height of fruits, VITC and fruit weight make effective the genotype selection.
genotypic variance; environmental variance; Malpighia emarginata
