Prediction of F6 line performance from F3 families in spring oilseed rape. I. Yield and other agronomic traits

Abstract

The reliability of a selection among crosses based on a cross prediction in early generations was investigated in spring rapeseed . The performance of the parents, the F 2 generation, and random F3 lines from four crosses were used to predict the probability of finding superior recombinant lines . These predictions were made for two years and compared with the observed performance of F6 lines in the second of these two years and in an additional year. Predicted and observed performances coincided reasonably for the characters plant height, standability, maturity and an index calculated from seed yield, oil content and protein content . For seed yield and flowering time, the predictions were very unreliable . In conclusion, prediction methods may be useful in rapeseed breeding, if quality traits are of major commercial interest .