The morphologic characterization is a basic step to analyze and quantify the germplasm genetic variability. The elimination of redundant descriptors reduces the labor for data collecting, without reduction of the precision of the characterization. This study aimed to analyze and quantify the phenotypic variability of assai palm's mother plant in the Northeast of Pará, Brazil, analyzing the relative importance of different morphological characteristics to phenotypic variance. Twenty two characters were analyzed: five from the plant (NEP; AE, NF; CAP and CEN); six from the fruits (DLF; DTF; PF; PS; PP and RPF); and eleven agronomics (PC; PFC; RFC; NRC; NFR; NFC; NCP; PCF; CIC; CC; and PTF). It was used the principal components analysis and Jolliffe, Mardia and Cury's criterions for discarding of variables assisted by the Pearson's correlations. It was necessary eight characters for explain 80% on the variation. It was suggested discarding the traits PF, PFC, NFC, RPF, PCF, PTF, DTF e NFR. The graphic dispersion formed a compact homogeneous group and partiality disperses in the flanks. The EO-018 e EO-035 genotypes were the most divergent. It was observed variability for genotype discrimination, with 83.84% on the characters. The use of the discarding criterions admitted the traits NEP, AE, CAP, CEN, NF, DLF, PS, PP, PC, RFC, NRC, CC, CIC e NCP for genotypes discrimination, with minimal lack of information. Graphic dispersion shows genotype divergence, important for to increase the genetic variability of collection and for production of superior genotypes.
Euterpe oleracea Mart; genetic resources; grape; multivariate analysis
