GENETIC-VARIABILITY OF ECONOMIC CHARACTERS IN 30 ACCESSIONS OF CUBIU (SOLANUM-SESSILIFLORUM DUNAL, SOLANACEAE) EVALUATED IN CENTRAL AMAZONIA

Thirty accessions of cubiu (Solanum sessiliflorum Dunal) from the Nati onal Research Institute for Amazonia improvement program were evaluate d in a completely randomized block design, with two repetitions, near Manaus. Fruit dimensions (longitudinal and transverse diameters, weigh t and quality characteristics (juice and Brix) and yield (number and t otal weight of fruits) were evaluated. The ratio of the error variance to the genetic variance among accessions confirms cubiu's autogamous habit. Heritability was shown to be high for fruit dimensions and inte rmediate for yield and Brix, indicating that selection can be fairly e ffective in the improvement of these traits.