Genetic evaluation of popcorn families using a Bayesian approach via the independence chain algorithm

Abstract

-The objective of this study was to examine genetic parameters of popping expansion and grain yield in a trial

Bayesian analysis of quantitative traits in popcorn (Zea maysL.) through four cycles of recurrent selection

“…In the present study, the heritability calculated on a family-mean basis through the four cycles was 0.49, 0.37, and 0.36 for plant height, grain yield, and popping expansion, respectively. These results are in agreement with those found by Rodovalho et al (2014) in a trial of half-sib families of popcorn evaluated using a Bayesian approach; family-mean heritability estimates ranged from 0.22 to 0.44, and from 0.28 and 0.49, for popping expansion volume and grain yield, respectively. On the other hand, Arnhold et al (2009) found larger estimates of heritability in Brazil suggesting good potential for improving popping expansion volume by selection and breeding; single-site heritability for popping expansion in S3 families ranged from 0.58 to 0.85 with a mean of 0.7.…”

“…Marginal posterior distributions of the variance components, genotypic values, CVG, and family-mean heritabilities, were obtained using the Independence Chain algorithm from the MIXED procedure of SAS, with the option PRIOR and posterior sample size of 5000. The prior densities of the variance components were obtained in the first run using Jeffreys' prior distribution; and subsequently, the second run was performed using these densities -DATA statement (Rodovalho et al, 2014).…”

“…Therefore, the knowledge of the aspects related to the inheritance of traits of interest in popcorn is of relevant importance and, in consequence, it should be calculated as accurately as possible (Mora & Scapim, 2007). The Bayesian approach, for instance, is a useful alternative for scientific inference in the genetic evaluation of popcorn (Rodovalho et al, 2014). Bayesian methods are increasingly being employed in plant breeding, enabled by Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods (MCMC) methods.…”

Comparison of testers in the selection of S3 families obtained from the UENF-14 variety of popcorn

“…An important detail that possibly hampers to choose the most suitable tester is the fact that the two main traits of the crop, popping expansion and grain yield, which should be evaluated together, have different mechanisms of inheritance (Pereira and Amaral Júnior 2001). Popping expansion is controlled by a small number of genes and there is predominance of additive gene action (Yongbin et al 2012;Rodovalho et al 2014). On the other hand, grain yield is genetically controlled by a large number of genes with predominance of non-additive gene effects.…”

Bayesian Credible Intervals for Maize Grain Yields of the Maintenance Varieties Evaluated in Sudan

“…A credible interval (or in general, a credible set) is the Bayesian analogue of a confidence interval. One advantage of the Bayesian procedures is the possibility of using the confidence limits (or credibility regions in the Bayesian context) as an alternative estimation of genetic parameters (Rodovalho et al, 2014). Agresti and Min (2005) discussed Bayesian confidence intervals for association parameters.…”