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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #175607
Title: FIELD-BASED ESTIMATES OF HERITABILITY AND GENETIC CORRELATIONS IN HOP (HUMULUS LUPULUS L.)

Author
item Henning, John
item TOWNSEND, MICHAEL - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/31/2004
Publication Date: 8/31/2005
Citation: Henning, J.A., Townsend, M.S. 2005. Field-based estimates of heritability and genetic correlations in hop. Crop Science. v. 45(4)

Interpretive Summary: Hop is a minor crop grown worldwide for the dried 'cones' used in brewing of beer. Little information exists on the inheritance of economically important in hop. The objective of this study was to estimate the heritability and genetic correlation of six traits. Heritabilities for all traits were moderate to high (h2 ranged from 0.57 to 0.89) while genetic correlations ranged from r = 0.28 to 0.92. Finally, correlations between coefficients of co-ancestry (COA) between male-female pairs and their respective mean offspring data were significant for three traits suggesting that COA values may be predictive of heterosis. It appears that selection for some traits should prove highly successful while selection for others may require more complex breeding procedures. The information in this study is the first publishing of field based estimates of narrow sense heritability and genetic correlations in hop and will aid hop breeders working with these traits.

Technical Abstract: Information is scant on the inheritance of traits of economic importance in hop. The objective of this study was to estimate the heritability and genetic correlation among six traits in hop. A North Carolina Design II mating design was used with 25 full-sib families. Pooled estimates of heritability were utilized with lowest heritability for BET (h2 = 0.57 + 0.19) and highest for COL (h2 = 0.89 + 0.02). Pooled estimates of genetic correlations ranged from r = 0.28 (ALF and YLD) to r = 0.92 (YLD and XAN). Finally, correlations between coefficients of co-ancestry (COA) between pairs and their respective mean offspring data were significant for ALP, COL and XAN suggesting that for these traits at least, COA values may be predictive of potential heterosis. The information presented in this study is the first published record of field based estimates of narrow sense heritability and genetic correlations in hop.