Acerola plant selection and breeding value prediction in second selection cycle progenies

Abstract

Since 1996, plants were selected and genetic parameters estimated in 64 second selection cycle progenies aspart of an acerola population improvement program of Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical. The variance components, geneticparameters and genetic values were obtained by the individual REML/BLUP procedure. Results indicate that plant selectionbased on only one fruit harvest is not advisable. The selection encompassed 39% of the progenies (selection among progenies)and 11% of the plants (selection within progenies). This led to the selection of the best 25 progenies for the traits yield, vitaminC, total soluble solids and mean fruit size. In the end, 38 plants were selected and vegetatively propagated to establish a seedorchard to supply commercial seed.

Keywords

• Malpighia emarginata
• genetic parameters
• selection index
• seed orchard