Estimate of cross efficiency of potato parents
Roberto Fritsche Neto, Velci Queiroz de Souza, Arione da Silva Pereira, Giovani Olegário da Silva, and Sandra Müller Garcia
The objective of this study was to estimate the cross efficiency of 43 genotypes frequently used as parents in the potato breeding program of Embrapa Clima Temperado. The study was conducted under greenhouse conditions in the seasons autumn and winter/spring, from 2000 to 2004, in Pelotas, RS, Brazil. For each cross, the number of pollinated flower buds, the fruit-set and the number of seeds were recorded. Each season, in which the genotype was crossed, was considered a replication. The data were analyzed using the REML/BLUE statistic model. Male parents adapted to the ecological conditions of the southern regions of Brazil presented higher efficiency in crosses than female parents. Genotypes used as male parents influenced the number of seeds per flower bud more than female parents.