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Heritability of bulb shape in some north European onion varieties
Author(s) -
DOWKER B. D.,
FENNELL J. F. M.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1974.tb01388.x
Subject(s) - heritability , biology , bulb , cultivar , regression analysis , botany , horticulture , statistics , zoology , mathematics , genetics
SUMMARY Heritabilities for shape index (the ratio of bulb height to diameter), based on parent—offspring regressions, were calculated for north European onion cultivars and inbred lines derived from them. Heritability estimates of 0·46 and 0·47 respectively were obtained for the two groups, S 0 parent bulbs giving S 1 progenies, and S 1 parent bulbs giving S 2 progenies. Within each offspring progeny, the regression of bulb shape index on log e bulb weight was significant. The regressions were used to estimate the mean shape indices of the progenies at the same mean bulb weight as their parents, and a series of ‘corrected’ progeny shape means thus obtained. Recalculation of the heritabilities using these ‘corrected’ progeny means gave increased estimates (0·78 and 0·84). By using this regression approach, the breeder can achieve high heritabilities when selecting for a specific mean shape index.