Selective efficiency of genome-wide selection in Coffea canephora breeding

Abstract

Over the years, breeding programs have sought efficient strategies to select genotypes with superior performance. Genome-wide selection (GWS) emerged in 2001, aiming to increase efficiency and accelerate selection gain. This technique is considered essential in the breeding of perennial species, such as Coffea canephora, mainly due to the potential to increase the gain per unit of time. Thus, this study aimed to apply the GWS principle, evaluate the efficiency of this technique in C. canephora population using SNP molecular markers, and evaluate eight main phenotypic traits. A total of 165 genotypes were evaluated, being 51 of varietal group of Conilon, 32 of Robusta, and 82 intervarietal hybrids. Through the sequencing of the RAPiD Genomics company, 18,111 SNP markers were identified, of which 14,429 were used after quality analysis. All traits showed good predictive capacity, except for fruit maturation time, fruit size, and yield per plant. The lower values of genomic heritability found for these traits may justify the low values of predictive capacity obtained. The accuracy values estimated were considered as moderate to high, ranging from 67 to 82%. By shortening the cycle time from 6 to 3 years, GWS provided selective efficiency ranging from 22 to 146%. Results revealed that GWS provides higher gains per unit of time. Therefore, GWS proved to be a useful and promising tool for the breeding of C. canephora for accurately predicting the individuals’ genotypes, shortening the time required to complete the selection cycle and providing gains in selective efficiency per unit of time.