Genetic parameters and simultaneous selection for adaptability and stability of macaw palm

Macaw palm is a potential raw material for biodiesel production due to its high oil yield that being able used as aviation biofuels. However, the species is still under domestication in Brazil, which requires accurate selection strategies to obtain superior genotypes. This work aimed to estimate genetic parameters and select macaw palm progenies for yield, adaptability, and stability, via mixed models. Fifteen half-sib progenies of macaw palm were evaluated at the juvenile stage, considering a randomized block design, with five replications and three plants per plot, spaced at 5 x 5 m. The following traits were evaluated: plant height, canopy projection in the row, canopy projection between rows, stem diameter, and fruit yield. The genetic parameters were estimated by the mixed models' methodology (REML/BLUP). The selection of the promising genotypes was based on the HMRPGV method and consisted of three strategies: i) mean performance in all environments (without interaction effect), ii) performance of genotypes in each environment with the mean of the effect of interaction, both based on the predicted genetic value, and (iii) simultaneous selection for yield, stability (HMGV), and adaptability (RPGV). Heritability estimates indicated the possibility of the successful selection of promising genotypes. Progenies CPAC-012, CPAC-01, CPAC-05, CPAC-03, Accession-280, CPAC-07, and EPAMIG-1 stood out, considering simultaneous selection for yield, stability, and adaptability. The statistics HMGV, RPGV, and HMRPGV presented the same genotype ordering and therefore are promising methodologies for the selection of macaw palm genotypes.