title: Assessment of genetic divergence among coffee genotypes by Ward-MLM procedure in association with mixed models.
abstract: Mixed linear models have been used for the analysis of the genetic diversity and provided further accurate results in crops such as eucalyptus, castor, and sugarcane. However, to date, research that combined this analysis with Ward-MLM procedure has not been reported. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify divergent coffee genotypes by Ward-MLM procedure, in association with the mixed-decision models. The experiment was initiated in February 2007, in the northwestern Rio de Janeiro State. The 25 evaluated genotypes were grown with a spacing of 2.5 x 0.8 m, in a randomized block design, with 5 replications, containing 8 plants each. The following agronomic traits were evaluated: plant height, stem diameter, plagiotropic branch number, and productivity. Four measurements were performed for each character from 2009 to 2012, between May and July. Data were analyzed using REML/BLUP analysis and Ward- MLM procedure. The Ward-MLM procedure in association with mixed linear models demonstrated the genetic variability among the studied coffee genotypes. We identified two groups of most divergent coffee genotypes, which can be combined by crossings and selections in order to obtain genotypes with high productivity and variability.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias.
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias.
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Teodoro
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Centro Universitário Norte do Espírito Santo, São Mateus, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Partelli
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura, Cruz das Almas, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: D H S G
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Barbosa
mesh_terms: D003069:Coffee / Q000235:genetics*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000235:genetics; D040961:Genetic Drift; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010641:Phenotype; D000069600:Plant Breeding; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable
chemical_list: D003069:Coffee