Phenological performance of half-sib progenies of dwarf cashew in the central region of Tocantins in the first year of plantation

Abstract

The experiment was held with nineteen progenies of dwarf cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) were tested from the clone and genotypes of the genetic improvement program of Embrapa Tropical Agroindustry. The randomized block design was used, with 19 treatments, three replications and 8 plants per plot, spaced 5 x 6 m, between plants and rows, respectively. The following criteria were evaluated: plant and canopy height, stem diameter, primary and secondary branches, canopy closure estimation, canopy spread, leaf length and width, plant height/stem diameter ratio (AP/DC) and galls infestation (Contarinia sp.). It was not definitely possible to perform an early selection for the cultivation of cashew by the performance of the progenies in the initial stage of growth. Due to the climate conditions of the state of Tocantins, evaluating the diameter, an important feature of vitality, it is worth highlighting the progeny FAGA 11. The progeny ME98-131 may be a promising material for demonstrating the morphological characteristics of dwarfism, lower height and higher value of scale. The progeny ME98-126 stood out for its low value of the ratio of the plant height and stem diameter, which is an important characteristic that may contribute to the adaptation of the plant to experimental conditions. A positive and significant correlation was found among the variables plant height, stem diameter and canopy spread because they are far easier to measure and offer less risk of errors.