ABSTRACT The knowledge of genetic diversity in plant population is essential to the success of plant breeding programs. Thus, previous characterization of landraces is one of the first steps before the indication of genotypes to these plant breeding programs. This study aimed to characterize, through morphological traits, and estimate the genetic diversity in landraces of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.). Genetic diversity was estimated by using multivariate methods that selected individual landraces to be indicated for farmers and consumers. According to morphological traits proposed by Biodiversity International, the genotypes UFPI-667 and UFPI- 682 showed higher dissimilarity and high potential to be used in crosses since they are genetically distant and complementary. The principal component analysis identified positive and significant phenotypic associations between variables: pod length, pod width, and grain production. According to the multivariate methods used, the landraces UFPI-666, UFPI-650, UFPI-651, UFPI-687, UFPI-658, UFPI-673, UFPI-667, and UFPI-674 are potential candidates for selection since they have relevant features for lima bean breeding, such as shorter cycles and higher grain production. This study showed that multivariate analysis can be used as an effective tool to find potential traits in lima bean and can assist the lima bean breeders in the selection of potential landraces. Accessions UFPI-667 and UFPI-682 can be indicated as genitors for breeding programs, as they are genetically distant and complementary in their characteristics.

ABSTRACT Plant breeding programs have been investing in the development of high commercial standard onions; thus, they depend on the genetic resources available for obtaining commercial hybrids. The objective of this study was to evaluate genetic parameters and diversity, and phenotypic and genotypic correlations of characters related to onion production. The experiment was conducted in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Fifty-three onion strains were evaluated, and a randomized block design was used. The number of plant and bulb characteristics evaluated was 13. The statistical analyses were performed using Genes and R software. A genetic variability among the genotypes was found for most of the characters at 1% level of significance in the F test. The heritability of most characters presented moderate to high values (≥ 70%) and high CVg/CVe ratio (≥ 1). The UPGMA method separated the genotypes into 20 groups, while the Tocher method separated them into 19 groups. The groups that stood out were V, XIV, XV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, and XX. The results of t-test showed six significant phenotypic correlations with low to moderate degree of association, and the genotypic correlations, in most cases, were higher than the phenotypic ones and showed the same sign. From the genetic parameters studied, the possibility of gains in the selection is high. The separation of groups of divergent genitors was possible due to the wide genetic variability for the studied characters. Moreover, the phenotypic and genotypic correlations showed that indirect selection is not feasible.