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HERITABILITY OF MATURE PLANT TRAITS IN SAND BLUESTEM
Abstract
Inheritance of mature plant traits of agronomic importance in a forage grass breeding program was studied in a population of 'Goldstrike' sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii Hack.). Heritability estimates were determined by parent-offspring regression and variance component analysis. Phenotypic and genotypic (additive genetic) correlations were also determined among mature plant traits and seedling traits. Average heritability estimates from parent-offspring regressions were 0.03, 020, 0.36, 0.05, 0.35, 0.62, and 0.73, respectively, for forage dry matter yield, forage protein content, forage in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), forage rating, forage dry matter content, heading height, and heading date. Heritability estimates from variance component analysis with heading date as a covariate were considered best estimates for yield, protein, IVDMD, forage rating, and dry matter since these traits were phenotypically correlated with heading date. Heritability estimates from variance component analysis with the effect of heading date removed by covariance analysis were 0.28, 0.36, 0.40, 0.21, 0.33, and 0.62, respectively, for yield, protein, IVDMD, forage rating, dry matter, and heading height. The phenotypic and genotypic correlations between yield and forage rating were 0.68 and 0.85, respectively. Genotypic correlations of forage rating with heading height,protein, and IVDMD were 0.87, -0.55, and -0.11, respectively. Protein and IVDMD were positively correlated phenotypically and genotypically. Genotypic correlations of IVDMD with yield and seedling weight were 0.33 and 0.43, respectively. Yield was positively genotypically correlated with seed weight, seedling weight, first year yield, and all mature plant traits except protein where the correlation was -0.08. The genotypic correlations of heading height with protein and IVDMD were -0.44 and -0.43, respectively. Since desirable traits have positive genetic correlations, selection for seedling vigor, yield, and IVDMD should be effective in simultaneously improving sand bluestem for these traits.
Subject Area
Agronomy
Recommended Citation
RILEY, RAYMOND DAVID, "HERITABILITY OF MATURE PLANT TRAITS IN SAND BLUESTEM" (1981). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8203222.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8203222