Abstract
The aim of the present study was to estimate the genetic improvement in the last recurrent selection cycles applied in two ‘Valenciana’ onion populations in Petrolina, PE. The experiments were carried out between October 2014 and January 2015, in Petrolina and Juazeiro, BA. The experiment consisted of a randomized block design, with 12 treatments and three replications. Analyses of variances were carried out separately for each population. The control population CNPH6400 was the comparison basis. Heritability and genetic gain were estimated for total (Prototal) and commercial (Procom) bulb yields. Significant differences were observed for Prototal and Procom in both populations and in both environments, except for the 25CA10 population, in Juazeiro. The highest Procom genetic gains were observed in Petrolina for 25CA10 and T811CR13 populations (510.5% and 522.1%, respectively), proving the efficiency of recurrent selection cycles. Genetic gains were nonlinear, and fluctuations may have occurred due to genetic drift.
Highlights
Onion (Allium cepa L.) is the second most relevant vegetable in the world (Abdelmageed et al 2013)
These two populations were selected from the control population CNPH6400 after ten recurrent selection cycles in order to select productive populations presenting ‘Valenciana’ characteristics and which were adapted to Petrolina conditions
CNPH6400 population was obtained at Brasilia, DF, after four recurrent selection cycles applied to the population resulted from the cross between Baia periforme population and Valcatorce INTA cultivar (Galmarini 2000)
Summary
Onion (Allium cepa L.) is the second most relevant vegetable in the world (Abdelmageed et al 2013). It is among the three most important vegetables in Brazil (IBGE 2016). Onions are of great economic importance in the northeast of Brazil, mainly due to the soil and climatic conditions that offers great comparative advantages to other producing regions, since it allows planting throughout the year. The states of Pernambuco and Bahia are the largest northeastern producers (Souza et al 2008). This region contributes with 22.9% of the national production. The major-producer counties in the states of Bahia and Pernambuco are located in the sub-medium of São Francisco river (IBGE 2016)
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