L.A. Carneiro, L.S. Silva, M.F.C. Gomes, M.F. Santos, S.E.S. Valente, R.L.F. Gomes, M.F. Costa
Published: July 04, 2019
Genet. Mol. Res. 18(3): GMR18348
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr18348

Cite this Article:
L.A. Carneiro, L.S. Silva, M.F.C. Gomes, M.F. Santos, S.E.S. Valente, R.L.F. Gomes, M.F. Costa (2019). Morphological characterization and genetic divergence of a cashew population in Floriano, Piauí, Brazil. Genet. Mol. Res. 18(3): GMR18348. https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr18348

About the Authors
L.A. Carneiro, L.S. Silva, M.F.C. Gomes, M.F. Santos, S.E.S. Valente, R.L.F. Gomes, M.F. Costa
Corresponding Author
M.F. Costa
Email: marconescosta@ufpi.edu.br

ABSTRACT

Anacardium occidentale (cashew) is a tropical tree species that occurs mainly in northeastern Brazil. The species has great socioeconomic importance for rural populations. We investigated the genetic diversity of a natural cashew population in a rural area of ​​Floriano, State of Piauí, Brazil. We quantitatively evaluated 12 natural variables related to the inflorescence, the cashew nut (fruit), and the peduncle (pseudofruit) in 35 trees (numbered sequentially G1-35). The characteristics of the peduncle (pseudofruit) appeared as the variables that most contributed to genetic divergence, while characteristics related to the inflorescence contributed less to the morphological differentiation. Multivariate statistics, employing principal component analysis evidenced that the first three principal components explained 81.72% of the total variance. Cashews G-3 and G-8 were identified as the most divergent, with G-3 demonstrating the greatest peduncle lengths and weights.

Key words: Anacardium occidentale, Genetic diversity, Multivariate analysis.