Sample size of the characters in castor bean

The aim of this research was to determine the sample size of the characters of hybrids in castor bean and to verify its variability among hybrids and characters. It was evaluated 41 plants and 55 hybrids (Sara and Lyra), respectively, regarding to the seed characters, adult plant seedling and production in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil (latitude 29°42'S, longitude 53°49'W e 95m de altitude), in the agriculture years of 2007/2008. It was found variability in the sample size among hybrids (Sara e Lyra) in relation to width of the seed, length of epicotyl 14 days after emergence, degree-days for issuance of the first true leaf, plant height at the beginning of flowering, height of the first bunch and the number of inflorescences, bunch per plant and capsules per bunch. There is an increased sample size (number of plants) to determine the characters of seed, seedling, plant and production, in that order.

Ricinus communis L.; experimental planning; sample dimensioning; experimental precision