Prediction of the stability and yield in nine strawberry cultivars in Brazil over two cycles

ABSTRACT

A strategy for traditional strawberry genetic improvement is the identification of elite varieties with improved characteristics. Here, we investigated the predicted breeding values, stability and yield of nine cultivars in a greenhouse over two cycles in Brazil. Based on production data, we estimated the variance components and breeding values prediction by restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction and simultaneous analysis under mixed models by the breeding values relative performance harmonic mean. There was a genotypic effect and genotype x cycle (G × C) interaction. The G × C interaction changed the ranking of cultivars. In the second cycle, the cultivars had higher values for production traits. Yield per plant (YLD), number of fruit per plant (NFP) and fruit weight (FRW) had intermediate to high heritability, with a favourable situation for direct selection through FRW. The three most stable cultivars for YLD and FRW were ‘Fronteras’, ‘Merced’ and ‘Monterey’. In conclusion, ‘Merced’ is the best cultivar due to its high yields and stability. ‘Fronteras’ and ‘Monterey’ are important because they have the largest fruit. Regardless of the cycle, ‘Merced’ must be among the genotypes used as progenitors to plant improvement.

KEYWORDS:

• Fragaria x ananassa Duch.
• horticultural potential
• BLUP
• REML

Acknowledgements

To Bioagro Comercial Agropecuária Ltda., for the supply of the strawberry mother plants.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in ‘figshare’ at http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.22065212.v1.