Analysis of genetic divergence among Manihot esculenta (crantz) access via morphoagronomic traits

This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity among accessions of traditional cassava collection at the University of Mato Grosso - UNEMAT through morphoagronomic traits. The collection is located in Mato Grosso Company Research, Assistance and Rural Extension (EMPA) of Caceres. We used 21 accessions for the evaluation of morphoagronomic traits: length of the leaf lobe; lobe leaf width; length petiole; plant height; height of first branching; length of roots; diameter of the root; root weight; counting the number of healthy pulps per plant; number of roots; weight in water; dry matter and starch content. The dissimilarity analysis was based on Euclidean distance and hierarchical clustering method UPGMA. The results obtained with the use of morphoagronomic traits and the Euclidean distance of 21 cassava accessions from the collection of UNEMAT showed the existence of genetic variability, where the greatest similarity was between the Rondonia and N.I. 10 - 0501, and the greatest divergence among the accessions Sinop and Liberatao 0507. The Group I allocated the highest number of accesses by UPGMA and the characteristic height of the first branch was instrumental in the formation of Group IV. The analyzed accessions presented genetic divergence, where the descriptors analyzed were sufficient for the differentiation of the accesses where NI 02-2816, Poupa Branca and Sinop were the most promising as parental for crossings between the other accessions.