GENETIC DIVERSITY AMONG Calotropis procera (Aiton) WT Aiton GENOTYPES ACCORDING TO SEED PHYSIOLOGICAL QUALITY

Characterizing genetic diversity based on evaluations involving germination and seed vigor, is a fundamental stage in starting the development of a cultivation system for Calotropis procera. Thus, this study aimed to estimate genetic diversity among 35 C. procera genotypes based on germination and vigor of seeds stored for 1 year. The genotypes, which originated from areas in Paraiba (Brazil), where they occur naturally, were collected and stored in March 2014. In order to evaluate the physiological potential of the seeds, two experiments were conducted between March and April 2015. The first involved a propagation test conducted in a germination chamber, while the second involved an emergence test in washed sand, performed in polyethylene trays in a screened environment under uncontrolled conditions. In both experiments, an entirely randomized design was used, with four repetitions of 25 seeds per genotype. The characteristics evaluated were germination, average daily germination, daily germination speed, the speed of germination index, the plantlet vigor index, emergence, the speed of emergence index, total length, and total dry mass. The results showed that genetic variability exists among the C. procera genotypes for variables involving germination and vigor of seeds stored for 1 year. Also, emergence, total dry plantlet mass, and germination characteristics contribute most to the genetic divergence among C. procera genotypes.