Genetic gain prediction on UNB-2U popcorn population under recurrent selection by using different selection indexes

Abstract

Aiming to estimate the gain prediction by using selection indexes on cycle C4 of UNB-2U, two hundred progenies of full-sib families were obtained on the third cycle under recurrent selection. The progenies were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with two replications within sets, in two distinct environments: Colégio Estadual Agrícola Antônio Sarlo, located in Campos dos Goytacazes, and Experimental Station of PESAGRO-Rio, located in Itaocara, Rio de Janeiro State. The utilized selection indexes were the Smith (1936) and Hazel (1943), Pesek and Baker (1969), Williams (1962), and Mulamba and Mock (1978). The selection index of Mulamba and Mock (1978) allowed the prediction of negative gains for number of disease ears, number of ears attacked by insects, number of broken plants, poorly hulled ears; and it provided superior gains for popcorn expansion and grain yield, with values of 10.55% and 8.50%, respectively, in the use of arbitrary weights attributed by tentative.