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Response to early generation selection for grain yield and harvest index in bread wheat ( T, aestivum L. )
Author(s) -
Borghi B.,
Accerbi M.,
Corbellini M.
Publication year - 1998
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.1439-0523.1998.tb01440.x
Subject(s) - selection (genetic algorithm) , biology , grain yield , yield (engineering) , agronomy , index selection , index (typography) , microbiology and biotechnology , artificial intelligence , world wide web , computer science , materials science , metallurgy
The availability of a reliable selection criterion for the identification of the most productive genotypes in early generations represents a crucial point in many breeding programs. The findings reported in the literature concerning the effectiveness of early generation testing for grain yield (GY) or harvest index (HI) are contradictory. In this work, we measured the response to selection for GY and HI applied in different generations, from F 2 to F 6 in nine segregating populations previously screened in F 2 by means of visual selection. Genetic variability for HI and GY was found in most of the segregating populations. However, GY of spaced plants in F 6 and F 3 generations was weakly correlated with yield of F 4 and successive generations grown at normal seed density. HI was of limited value as an indicator of yield potential.