VARIATION GENERATED THROUGH GENETIC RECOMBINATION OF Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch

Abstract

Genetic improvement in poinsettia by applying genotechnical hybridization and selection methods has generated  morphophenotypical variability that needs to be evaluated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the variation obtained through genetic recombination in poinsettia. The research was carried out during the 2010-2015 period. The genetic material was generated through manual pollination and consisted in three simple-cross experimental genotypes (CSF3, CSG1, CSB14), two with three-line crosses (CTA18, CTE19) and one double-cross (CDC51), so that six materials in total were used. A completely random experimental design with ten repetitions was used, considering one plant as repetition. Variance analysis and Tukey means comparison test were carried out. The experimental poinsettia materials presented a differential morphological response. The variance analysis detected highly significant statistical differences in all the characteristics recorded, with the exception of bract diameter. The experimental genotypes CDC51 and CSB14 are the ones that showed the best performance. The variation generated through genetic recombination is broad. The evaluation at the commercial level of the promising materials is required, with the purpose of being liberated as new varieties.