Comparison of yield traits between single-spaced plants and seeded plots of half-sib families

Authors: Larson, Steven; Hernandez, Alexander

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Breeding of forage plants is usually based on the selection of individual plants from space planted nurseries, but this is not how they are planted or grown by farmers, ranchers, or seed producers. For some traits, such as seed yield, the breeding values of individual plants are evaluated based on the performance of their half-sib progeny in replicated field trials, but this is difficult and time consuming especially for traits that require many years to evaluate. Experiments are being conducted to examine relationships of intermediate wheatgrass seed yield traits measured on single-spaced plants and seeded plots of their half-sib progenies. Significant correlations were detected between seed yield per plant and seed yield per plot, although rankings of genotypes are not exactly the same. A model to predict seed yield of the half-sib progenies, based on a genomic similarity among the mother plants, showed significant correlation (R=0.80) to observed plot yields. Results show that genomic selection and remote sensing can be used to predict yield of intermediate wheatgrass in replicated field trials that represent production environments of the western U.S. Thus, genomic selection and remote sensing can be used to accelerate selection and development of improved varieties of intermediate wheatgrass.

Technical Abstract: Breeding of forage plants is usually based on the selection of individual plants from space planted nurseries, but this is not how they are planted or grown by farmers, ranchers, or seed producers. For some traits, such as seed yield, the breeding values of individual plants are evaluated based on the performance of their half-sib progeny in replicated field trials, but this is difficult and time consuming especially for traits that require many years to evaluate. Experiments are being conducted to examine relationships of intermediate wheatgrass seed yield traits measured on single-spaced plants and seeded plots of their half-sib progenies. Significant correlations were detected between seed yield per plant and seed yield per plot, although rankings of genotypes are not exactly the same. A model to predict seed yield of the half-sib progenies, based on a genomic similarity among the mother plants, showed significant correlation (R=0.80) to observed plot yields. Results show that genomic selection and remote sensing can be used to predict yield of intermediate wheatgrass in replicated field trials that represent production environments of the western U.S. Thus, genomic selection and remote sensing can be used to accelerate selection and development of improved varieties of intermediate wheatgrass.