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Comparison of predicted and observed response to selection in two breeding populations of perennial ryegrass
Author(s) -
Ravel C.,
Charmet G.,
Balfourier F.,
Debote B.,
Vézine J. C.,
Astier C.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
plant breeding
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.583
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1439-0523
pISSN - 0179-9541
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0523.1995.tb00808.x
Subject(s) - biology , perennial plant , selection (genetic algorithm) , agronomy , index selection , population , rust (programming language) , demography , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , programming language
To predict any genetic response to selection, two breeding populations of perennial ryegrass, consisting of half‐sib families, were evaluated as spaced plants from 1987 to 1989 for several agronomical traits. In each population, the best plants selected through a multitrait Smith and Hazel's index were planted in a polycross to produce the second generation half‐sib families. Both generations were evaluated together from 1991 to 1993 as spaced plants. The difference between generations was the observed genetic response, which was compared to that predicted. Rust tolerance, aftermath heading and persistence were significantly improved in both populations. In trial plots used to assess the yield, no effect of mass selection was noticed. Thus, it is concluded that mass selection failed to increase productivity but produced some improvements in disease tolerance and aftermath heading.