The quantitative variation of the morphological characters in diploid, triploid and tetraploid genotypes of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] was evaluated in three diploids, three tetraploids and three triploids hybrids, in relation to the number of chloroplasts per leaf stomata (NCF); width and length of the leaves (LFH e CFH); leaf width/length ratio (LF/CF); stem diameter (DCE); petal diameter in male and female flowers (DCM and DCF); ovary diameter (DOV); fruit weight (PMF); transversal and axial fruit diameter (DTF and DLF); fruit diameter axial/diameter transversal ratio (DL/DT) and rind thickness (EMC). A randomized block design was employed with three replications and five plants per plot. A nested analysis was performed and the ploidy level was considered the main factor. The genotypes were clustered at a dendrogram based on generalized Mahalanobis distance and also plotted on Cartesian plain using scores of the first and second canonic variables. Relative contribution of the variables to clustering was estimated by the Singh Method and the matrix of correlation was obtained using the Principal Component Analysis. The NCF presented higher relative importance (41%) to set divergence clusters, while DCF, DCM, DOV and DT/DL when analyzed together showed themselves efficient to discriminate diploids, triploids and tetraploid plants. So, they are recommended to aid watermelon breeding programs to obtain polyploid plants.
Citrullus lanatus; polyploidy; multivariated analysis
