STRAWBERRY SELECTION INDEX COMPONENTS

Abstract

Limiting values for the additive and non-additive variance components were estimated for the cultivated strawberry for mildew resistance, flower stalk number, berry appearance, berry numbers, marketable yield, leaf scorch, processing desirability, and for a discriminant function selection index involving the seven basic characters. It was estimated that, for the average of the seven characters and for the index, non-additive variance constituted as much as 40% of the total genetic variance. A method of attaining genetic progress significantly better than the commercially important Redcoat cultivar was suggested. It involved using a discriminant function selection index and a two-step selection procedure first applying progeny selection and then individual selection.