Selection on yellow passion fruit progenies by multivariate indices

Abstract

^{The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic gains predicted through different selection indices in 16 half-sib progenies of yellow passion fruit, using six fruit characteristics. The selection criteria used were: the classical index of Smith & Hazel (CI) and the genotype-ideotype distance of Cruz (GID), both with three economic weights; the desired gain index of Pesek & Baker (DGI); the weight-free index of Elston (WFI); and the direct selection (DS). High genotypic correlations, of greater magnitude than the phenotypic ones, were found for some characteristics, which indicates the presence of pleiotropic genes. About 14% of the plants were selected for intercrossing and formation of a new cycle of selection. The selection criteria used were very different from each other, even for the same selection index with different economic weights, which shows the high progenies divergence. Desirable genetic gains were obtained with DS, but with lower magnitude than other indices. Although the CI was the criterion that showed the highest genetic gains for weight and number of fruits per plant, there were negative gains for some characteristics. The GDI was the best criterion to perform a greater predicted and balanced genetic gains for all the characteristics, while the WFI showed the worse performance.}