Selection Index with Parents, Populations, Progenies, and Generations Effects in Autogamous Plant Breeding

Autogamous plant breeders obtain numerous populations annually, and in the progeny selection process, the merit of the population is not considered. Thus, it would be important to have a progeny selection index that includes not only the effects of progenies in the different generations but also the effects of populations in all the generations and the data from parents and the F-1 and F-2 generations simultaneously. The main objective of this paper was to develop a selection method that encompasses the entire structure of an autogamous plant breeding program including all the data as of the parents, the F-1 and F-2 generations, and also both the progeny and population effects in the F-3 to F-6 generations. To do so, a selection index (called selection index with parents, populations, progenies, and generations [SIPPPG]), which includes all these effects, was proposed. Estimators were also derived for computation of the contribution (through indirect heritabilities and selective accuracies) of each source of information for predicting the additive genetic value of the lines to be obtained at the end of the selection process. The new approach was assessed through numerical evaluation and a total index was also obtained using field data derived from a breeding program with the common bean crop. This new index yields gains in selection efficiency ranging from 5 to 28% depending on the relative magnitude of the genetic variation among populations.