Recurrent selection as breeding strategy for heat tolerance in wheat

Abstract

The development of heat-tolerant varieties is an important goal of wheat breeding programs, requiringefficient selection methods. In the present study the use of recurrent selection was evaluated as a strategy to improve heatstress tolerance in wheat. Two cycles of recurrent selection were performed in experiments conducted in research areas of theUniversidade Federal de Viçosa, located in Coimbra-MG and Viçosa-MG, in 2004 and 2007, in two growing seasons (summerand winter). The genetic gain and the existence of variability show the possibility of successful recurrent selection for heattolerancein wheat.

Keywords

• selection gains
• temperature
• Triticum aestivum L.