Performance of sugarcane families at different stages in the genetic improvement by REML/BLUP

Abstract

The objective of this work was to select the best sugarcane families to increase productivity (TCH) in T1 stage and monitor their performance in stages T2 and T3 of the sugarcane breeding program (PMGCA / UFPR / RIDESA). The experiments of stages T1 and T2 were performed at the experimental station of Paranavaí (PR) and T3 stage was installed in three locations in the northwestern of Paraná State. In the first phase (T1) 40 full-sib families from bi-parental crosses were evaluated and were correlated with selected families in the next stage of selection (T2), comparing the number of genotypes indicated by BLUPIS, and the number of clones that composed the T2 stage, by bulk selection. Data were analyzed by REML/BLUP methodology. In T1 stage, twenty and two (22) families were selected for T2 stage, and seven families were selected for T3 stage, being results of the crosses RB835486 x RB72454, SP70-1143 x RB855156, RB835054 x SP83-2847, SP80-3280 x RB835054, RB855156 x SP80-1816, SP80-3280 x RB855589, and SP80-3280 x RB835486. The BLUPIS selection procedure allowed the indication of a greater number of potential families and clones within these families. The genotypes with improved performance in subsequent phases were derived from families with positive genotypic values and yield above experimental average in the T1 stage.