Path analysis between fruit biometric traits of Caesalpinia ebano H. Karst

Caesalpinia ebano is a tropical tree from Colombia; its conservation status is in the endangered category since the remaining populations are suffering genetic erosion. The objective of this study was to estimate the phenotypic (rF) and genetic (rG) correlations among biometric fruit and seeds traits, and the path analysis for the fruit weight. Ten trees (treatments) were evaluated under the random effects model, with 10 fruits/tree as replications. There was significant variability between trees for seven quantitative traits. The fruit weight showed genetic correlations with six traits (0.56* > rG < 1.00**). The number and weight of the seeds per fruit showed high genetic correlations with five traits (rG ≥ 0.85**). The weight of the seeds per fruit exerted direct and indirect effects of greater importance in determining the fruit weight. It is possible to improve the production and physiological quality of the seed by directly selecting trees with fruits of greater seed weight.