Genetic diversity of macauba from natural populations of Brazil.
BACKGROUND
The macauba has been identified as the most promising native species for the production of vegetable oil and biomass. Several studies confirm its potential for numerous purposes (liquid and solid biofuels, food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals), but this Brazilian biodiversity resource has been little explored, and work aimed at their domestication and genetic improvement are relatively recent. This study consisted of a multivariate approach to levels of trans fatty acids, oil yield and physical characteristics found in fruits of macauba of natural populations. The objective was to quantify the genetic variability among 35 genotypes of natural populations of macauba from 16 locations in different regions of Brazil. Euclidean Distance measurements were estimated and the cluster analysis obtained by the UPGMA method considering separately the fatty acid profile, and traits related to physical part and the fruits oil content.


RESULTS
It was observed the formation of seven groups for the profile of fatty acids and five groups for physical characteristics and oil yield. Large variations were observed for different types of mesocarp (pulp) fatty acids and kernel. Oleic acid (18: 1) in mesocarp was the largest contribution to the total divergence. The results indicate variations to the physical characteristics and oil yield, especially the oil percentage in mesocarp and weight of the whole fruit which contributed 64.58% of the divergence between genotypes.


CONCLUSIONS
The study identified genotypes potential to generate variability and obtaining selection gains, directing plant breeding programs according with demands of oils market.
Embrapa Cerrados, BR 020 km 18, Caixa Postal 08223, Brasília, DF, 73310-970, Brazil. leo.carson@embrapa.br.
Léo Duc Haa Carson Schwartzhaupt
LD
da Conceição
Embrapa Food Technology, Av. das Américas, Caixa Postal 29501, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 23020-470, Brazil. rosemar.antoniassi@embrapa.br.
Rosemar
R
Antoniassi
Embrapa Cerrados, BR 020 km 18, Caixa Postal 08223, Brasília, DF, 73310-970, Brazil. nilton.junqueira@embrapa.br.
Nilton Tadeu Vilela
NT
Junqueira
Embrapa Cerrados, BR 020 km 18, Caixa Postal 08223, Brasília, DF, 73310-970, Brazil. marcelo.fideles@embrapa.br.
Marcelo Fideles
MF
Braga
Embrapa Food Technology, Av. das Américas, Caixa Postal 29501, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 23020-470, Brazil. adelia.faria-machado@embrapa.br.
Adelia Ferreira
AF
de Faria-Machado
Embrapa Food Technology, Av. das Américas, Caixa Postal 29501, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 23020-470, Brazil. joicebr_22@hotmail.com.
Joice Barbosa
JB
Rogério
Embrapa Food Technology, Av. das Américas, Caixa Postal 29501, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 23020-470, Brazil. iaraduprat@yahoo.com.br.
Iara Duprat
ID
Duarte
Embrapa Food Technology, Av. das Américas, Caixa Postal 29501, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 23020-470, Brazil. humberto.bizzo@embrapa.br.
Humberto Ribeiro
HR
Bizzo
D028023:Arecaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D001938:Brazil; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D010802:Phylogeny; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000032:analysis; D013045:Species Specificity
D005227:Fatty Acids; D010938:Plant Oils