Genetic variability of Physalis ixocarpa and P. philadelphica from physicochemical fruit traits

Keylla Souza Dos Santos,Alismário Leite Da Silva,Tamara Torres Tanan,Luiz Cláudio Costa Silva,Adriana Rodrigues Passos

doi:10.1590/s1678-3921.pab2021.v56.01534

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this work was to estimate the genetic parameters and genetic divergence of two species of Physalis based on fruit traits, as well as the correlations between these traits. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block, with three treatments (P. philadelphica and the green and purple varieties of P. ixocarpa), and six replicates. The following traits were evaluated: average fruit mass (AFM), soluble solids (SS), longitudinal fruit diameter (LFD), transversal fruit diameter (TFD), total fruit mass (TFM), number of fruit per plant (NF), reducing sugars (RS), and total sugars (TS). Genetic divergence was estimated by Tocher’s and the UPGMA methods. There was genetic divergence between the Physalis species, with a higher contribution of AFM, LFD, and TFD, mainly by Tocher’s method. A positive correlation was observed between AFM x LFD, AFM x TFD, and LFD x TFD, and a negative correlations between LFD x TFM, TFD x TFM, and NF x RS. The species were discriminated by total sugars. The AFM, LFD, TFD, and TS traits show significant genetic variation and high values of heritability; therefore, they are suitable targets for the genetic breeding of the evaluated Physalis species.

Highlights

The Solanaceae family has many vegetable crop species that are grown for food purposes, including some Physalis species
Tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa Brot. ex Hornem. and P. philadelphica Lam.), known as “tomate verde” and “tomate de cáscara”, is a vegetable crop studied in a diversity center in Mexico, and it is widely used in the food sector (Peña-Lomelí et al, 2004; DelgadoAlvarado et al, 2018)
The coefficients of variation varied from 11.03% (LFD) to 68.48% (TFM)

Summary

Introduction

The Solanaceae family has many vegetable crop species that are grown for food purposes, including some Physalis species. Its fruit can be green, yellowgreen, or purple, depending on the cultivated variety (Barroso et al, 2018), and are used to make salads, soups, stews, and sauces (Santiaguillo Hernández & Blas Yáñez, 2009; Barroso et al, 2017) Both species are used in the traditional medicine for the treatment of fever, cough, and tonsillitis (Maldonado et al, 2011). Besides sharing the same names in some locals, these species show morphological similarities, some studies describe P. ixocarpa as a synonym for P. philadelphica (Waterfall, 1967; Santiaguillo Hernández & Blas Yáñez 2009; Naumova et al, 2019). Differences between their flowers and fruit have led many authors to describe these species as distinct (Lagos B. et al, 2005; Zamora-Tavares et al, 2015; Martínez et al, 2017). P. philadelphica shows hermaphrodite flowers and is self-incompatible (Zamora-Tavares et al, 2015)

Objectives

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Results

Conclusion