Performance of potential parents for a rainfed tropical wheat breeding program
Camila Helena Teixeira, Maiara Oliveira Fernandes, Alan Diego do Rosário Chaves, Brena Kelly da Silva Almeida, Giovane Bruno Savioli, Fábio Aurélio Dias Martins, José Maria Villela Padua, Aurinelza Batista Teixeira Condé and Jose Airton Rodrigues Nunes
Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability and performance of the agronomic traits of wheat cultivars in the southern region of Minas Gerais for the purpose of choosing parents for a rainfed wheat breeding program. We evaluated 78 wheat cultivars in two locations in Minas Gerais regarding different agronomic traits. The statistical analyses were carried out using Henderson’s mixed-model approach. The genetic values of the cultivars were predicted, and the heritabilities and accuracies were estimated for selection of cultivars. The cultivar × location interaction was decomposed into its simple and complex fractions. The genetic and environmental correlations between the traits were estimated, and selection was made for multiple traits using the sum of the standardized variables (Z-index). The genetic variance was significant for all the traits, and the cultivar × location interaction was significant. By the Z-index, 15 wheat cultivars more adapted were identified.