ABSTRACT.
Breeding programmes must be improved to accelerate the development of new cultivars due to the commercial importance of passion fruit. This study compared four selection indexes and the REML/BLUP methodology in an assessment of predicted genetic gains in the traits of interest. A total of 81 full-sib progenies derived from the third cycle of recurrent selection were assessed for one harvest in one environment. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with five plants per plot. The following traits were assessed: number of fruits, total yield, fruit mass, fruit longitudinal diameter, fruit transverse diameter, fruit pulp percentage, shell thickness and content of soluble solids. The Mulamba & Mock index produced the best results for the selection of progenies. The REML/BLUP method was the most efficient and selected progenies with predicted genetic gains better than the selection indexes tested.
Keywords:
mixed models; Passiflora edulis Sims; predicted genotypic values; simultaneous selection