Multivariate analysis as a tool for measuring the stability of morphometric traits in Lycopersicon plants from in vitro

GUILLERMO RAUL PRATTA; ZORZOLI, R.; PICARDI, L. A.

Genetics and Molecular Biology

Sociedade Brasileira de Genética

Año: 2000 vol. 23 p. 470 - 483

1415-4757

The phenotypic stability of morphometric traits in Lycopersicon spp. (stem perimeter at the base, middle and top, and number of flowers per cluster) was measured by multivariate analysis through a progeny test in order to estimate the genetic stability of these traits. Principal components were calculated for two groups of Lycopersicon spp., non-regenerated plants and the progeny of regenerated plants. Analysis of variance was performed to support principal component analysis. Both groups presented similar eigenvalues and eigenvectors, while no significant differences were found between any of the traits studied. These results indicated that the phenotypic structure was the same among the progeny of regenerated and non-regenerated plants, so that no variation would occur in in vitro culture. Multivariate analysis proved to be an appropriate methodology for the measurement of the stability of morphometric traits after one regeneration cycle.