Abstract
No genetic estimates for turfgrass characteristics in bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., are currently available in the literature. Therefore, the objectives of this investigation were to evaluate genetic variation among bermudagrass clones and their polycross progenies and to estimate heritability values for several turfgrass characteristics. Parental clones and polycross progenies were established in a randomized complete block design with four replications in 1981. The parental clones differed (P < 0.01) for all characteristics evaluated during 1981 and 1982. Polycross families differed (P < 0.05) for 13 of the 18 characters evaluated. Broad‐sense heritability estimates for a single year ranged from 0.83 to 0.99. Narrow‐sense heritability estimates based on the polycross family analyses ranged from 0.06 to 0.94. Heritability estimates from the parent‐offspring covariance analyses ranged from 0.00 to 1.22. For a number of characters, additive genetic variation accounted for a significant portion of the total genetic variation. Data over a 2‐year period were combined for leaf length and leaf width. Broad‐sense heritability estimates were moderately high with values of 0.94 and 0.83 for leaf length and leaf width, respectively. Narrow‐sense heritability values for leaf length and leaf width were 0.83 and 0.62 from the progeny analysis and 0.57 and 0.43 based on parent‐offspring covariance, respectively. For characteristics which had moderate‐to‐high narrow‐sense heritability values, breeding methods which involve no progeny testing should be suitable for genetic gain to be realized.
Published Version
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