Estimation of genetic parameters in rubber tree without use of progenies tests

Abstract

The objective of this work was to investigate genetic parameters without the utilization of progeny tests by using young rubber tree (Hevea spp) at the age of one year. The following parameters were estimated: genetic variance (σ_g²), environmental variance (σ_e²), herdability in broad sense (h²), residual variance and coefficient; and the following characters were used: plant height stem diameter, leaf whorls number and dry rubber production characters. The estimations of H² were considered high in relation to others methods, probably due to correlations that were not isolated. However, they can be used in breeding programs because of their pratical application and usefulness in the obtention of estimatives in used early stages of genotypes  development, particular by in forest species where the use of progenies tests would delay the program objective.