ABSTRACT. The development of superior cultivars involves parents with superiority for the traits of interest and wide genetic variability. Efficient plant breeding and selection strategies that allow for the identification of superior genotypes are essential in breeding programs. This work aims to carry out a comparative study between several strategies for choosing parents, for hybridization purposes, based on phenotypic analysis and molecular information. To obtain the phenotypic and genotypic information of the parents, data simulation was used. For genotyping, 2000 single nucleotide polymorphism markers were used, and from all possible gametes to be formed (22000), 5000 were randomly sampled to form each of the 100 individuals of the population of recombinant inbred strains. To obtain the phenotypic information, five characteristics with different levels of complexity were simulated. The comparative study was carried out using data referring to simulated genotypic values of hybrids and parents. Then, aiming to choose the parents destined for hybridization, different traditional selection strategies based on phenotypic analysis and the genome-wide selection methodology were approached. The genomic information resulted in the choice of the best lines and in obtaining superior hybrids when compared with traditional methodologies. The inclusion of the genomic genetic values of the parents in determining the crosses to be carried out increases the probability of generating phenotypically superior hybrids. Thus, the traditional methods of choosing parents for hybridization purposes are effective, but when incorporating the information from genome-wide selection, the choice of parents provides superior and promising results.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a variabilidade genética e as associações de características produtivas do feijão-bóer, para indicação dessa cultura ao programa de melhoramento em Moçambique. Foram avaliadas 11 características do feijão-bóer, em delineamento de três blocos ao acaso, nos ambientes de Namapa (I) e Montepuez (II), em 2017/2018. Para avaliação das características, utilizaram-se análises de variância, parâmetros genéticos, correlações, rede de correlação e análise de trilha. Em ambos os ambientes, há alta variabilidade genética e fenotípica para ramos primários, ramos secundários, vagens por planta, número de sementes por vagem, largura e comprimento da vagem e produtividade, bem como alta herdabilidade para todas as características, exceto para altura da planta. Os ramos primários e secundários apresentam alta correlação com a produtividade e efeito direto positivo sobre ela. No entanto, altura de planta e vagens por planta apresentam alta variabilidade fenotípica e correlação positiva com a produtividade no ambiente I. Vagens por planta, peso de 100 sementes e ramos primários apresentam altos efeitos positivos diretos no ambiente I, e ramos secundários e número de sementes por vagem, no ambiente II. Os ramos primários e secundários apresentam alta variabilidade e associações com a produtividade em ambos os ambientes e são indicados para o programa de melhoramento do feijão-bóer em Moçambique.

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic variability and associations of yield traits of pigeon pea, for indication of this crop for the breeding program in Mozambique. Eleven pigeon pea traits were evaluated in a experimental design with three randomized complete blocks, in the environments of Namapa (I) and Montepuez (II), in 2017/2018. To evaluate the traits, analyses of variance, genetic parameters, correlations, correlation network, and path analysis were used. In both environments, there is a high genetic and phenotypic variability for primary branches, secondary branches, pods per plant, number of seed per pod, pod width, pod length, and yield, as well as a high heritability for all traits except for plant height. The primary and secondary branches have a high correlation with yield and a positive direct effect on it. However, plant height and pods per plant show a high phenotypic variability and a positive correlation with yield in environment I. Pods per plant, weight of 100 seed, and primary branches show high direct positive effects in environment I, and secondary branches and number of seed per pod, in environment II. The primary and secondary branches show high variability and associations with yield in both environments and are indicated for the pigeon pea breeding program in Mozambique.

ABSTRACT. The importance of rice (Oryza sativa) is indisputable this cereal is the staple food for half of the global population. Genetic progress estimation allows evaluation of the effectiveness of genetic improvement of crops and helps in the planning of breeding programs. This paper aims to estimate the genetic yield progress made by the program in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, which is run by the Epamig/UFV/Embrapa consortium. A total of 210 lines were evaluated by value for cultivation and use testing that was conducted in the municipalities of Janaúba, Leopoldina, and Lambari, from 1993 to 2016. Based on Vencovsky’s (1986) method, the genetic gains in Lambari, Janaúba, and Leopoldina were 1.46, 0.14, and 0.11%, respectively. The gain in Leopoldina was considered very low during the evaluated period. According to Breseghello’s (1998) method, the annual average genetic gain was 0.23 and 0.04% in Lambari and Janaúba, respectively. In Leopoldina, a yield gain of - 2.37% per year was observed for the evaluation period from 1994 to 1999, and a yield gain of 0.1% per year was observed from 2000 to 2016. These results can be explained by the focus on quality as a strategy for the breeding program in Minas Gerais State in the 1990s. Vencovsky’s (1986) and Breseghello’s (1998) methods were able to quantify yield gains and demonstrate the dynamics of the irrigated rice genetic improvement program in Minas Gerais State.

ABSTRACT: The study of adaptability and stability underlies the cultivar recommendation process for all crops. There is a considerable number of statistical methods available for this purpose, but little is known about their actual adoption by the Brazilian scientific community. The objective of this study was to carry out a systematic review of the scientific literature on the adaptability and stability methods used in maize and soybean in Brazil from scientific articles published between 1970 and 2017 in Brazilian journals. Article searches were carried out in journals indexed through the SciELO database. The articles were classified according to the year of publication and the adaptability and stability methods used. We also evaluated the pattern of association between methods. We found 113 articles on adaptability and stability in maize and soybean, in which 21 methods were listed. The most commonly used method was the Eberhart and Russell methodology. The Cruz, Torres, and Vencovsky along with the AMMI methods were also widely used. The number of articles using most methods decreased in the current decade, except for the GGE Biplot, MHPRVG, and Centroid methods. In studies with more than one method, the methods were more likely to be used together with the Eberhart and Russell methodology. Adaptability and stability in maize and soybean have been widely studied over the last several decades in Brazil, although the number of publications on this subject has decreased over this time period.

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate diversity, experimental conditions and dynamics of the Irrigated Rice Breeding Program of Minas Gerais - Brazil, by meta-analysis. The target traits were grain yield, plant height and days to flowering. Evaluations were based on estimates of 376 genotypes grown at three locations, in two final comparative trials, in 14 growing seasons. Stability of the overall averages of the traits plant height and days to flowering was observed, indicating an adequate plant height and medium cycle. High average yields (>5,000 kg ha-1), good experimental accuracy and genetic variability were recorded. However, the genetic variability of all traits decreased over time, indicating the need to increase genotypic diversity. The parameter estimates of the morphoagronomic traits studied in time meta-analysis indicated the dynamic nature and good accuracy of the Irrigated Rice Breeding Program of Minas Gerais.

ABSTRACT. Trait selection is occasionally necessary to save money and time, as well as accelerate breeding program processes. This study aimed to propose two criteria to select traits based on a Procrustes analysis that are poorly explored in genetic breeding: Criterion 1 (backward algorithm) and Criterion 2 (exhaustive algorithm). Then, these two criteria were further compared with Jolliffe’s criterion, which has often been used to select traits in genetic diversity studies. Sixteen agronomic traits were considered, and 40 Conilon coffee (Coffea canephora) accessions were evaluated. This study showed that the flexibility in selecting traits by researcher preference, graphical visualization, and Procrustes M2 tatistic through criteria 1 and 2 is a fast and reliable alternative for decision-making. These decisions are based on the removal and addition of traits for phenotyping in studies of Conilon coffee diversity that can be applied to other crops. Other relevant aspects of selection traits criteria were also discussed.

Abstract The specialty coffee market has grown significantly in the past decades and has several cultivars with productive potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensory profile of the beverage produced from Coffea arabica L. genotypes based on postharvest processing and to identify cultivars with the greatest genetic potential for coffee cultivation in the city of Araponga, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with two replicates and 11 genotypes with different levels of resistance to rust. The sensory profile demonstrated an interaction between the genotype and the processing technique. Five of the genotypes presented total scores above 85 points according to the SCAA protocol. Moreover, two of these genotypes yielded heightened sensory notes after undergoing dry processing. The selection of coffee genotypes should consider the level of technology involved in the drying of the coffee beans, which preserves the potential quality of the beverage.

RESUMO O melhoramento genético da alfafa para alimentação animal leva mais tempo do que para muitas outras culturas. Por isso, definir melhores métodos de seleção é importante para o sucesso do melhoramento da cultura. Objetivou-se utilizar métodos de seleção direta, indireta e simultânea, para a seleção de cultivares de alfafa, com base em características de produção e valor nutritivo. As características avaliadas foram subdivididas em dois grupos: produção e valor nutritivo. Os ganhos de seleção foram estimados por seleção direta, indireta e simultânea para cada grupo, considerando-se a seleção das 25 % melhores cultivares. As seleções direta e indireta entre as médias dos genótipos não são eficientes para fornecer as respostas desejáveis para todo o conjunto de características. Os resultados da seleção simultânea, utilizando-se o índice de Tai, forneceram uma distribuição de ganhos mais equilibrada para os conjuntos de características em todos os cortes. A seleção simultânea permitiu a identificação das cultivares 5681 e Verdor no primeiro corte, bem como a ProINTA Patricia no segundo corte, como superiores, nos dois grupos de características avaliadas.

ABSTRACT Alfalfa breeding aimed at trait improvement for livestock feed takes longer periods of time, if compared to many other crops. Therefore, better selection methods are necessary for the success of alfalfa breeding programs. Although knowing about selection methods is quite important, there is a notable lack of information, as regards successful solutions. This study aimed to use direct, indirect and simultaneous selection methods for selecting alfalfa cultivars, based on yield traits and nutritive value. The evaluated traits were subdivided into two groups: forage yield and nutritive value. Selection gains were estimated by direct, indirect and simultaneous selection for each group, considering the selection of the 25 % best cultivars. Direct and indirect selections among genotype averages are not efficient to provide the desirable responses to the whole set of traits. The results for simultaneous selection, using the Tai index, provided a more balanced gain distribution to the set of traits in all cuts. The simultaneous selection allowed the identification of the 5681 and Verdor cultivars in the first cut, as well as ProINTA Patricia in the second cut, as superior in the two groups of evaluated traits.

Resumo: Características relacionadas à qualidade de sementes tem sido pouco utilizada em estudos sobre diversidade genética em maracujazeiro. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a diversidade genética entre progênies constituídas por híbridos e recíprocos com base em características de emergência e vigor das sementes. Foram avaliadas: porcentagem de emergência, índice de velocidade de emergência, comprimento total da plântula, comprimento da parte aérea, comprimento da raiz primária, massa seca de parte aérea, número de plântulas normais e peso de 100 sementes. O experimento foi em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com 20 progênies (híbridos e recíprocos) e quatro repetições de 50 sementes. A diversidade genética foi determinada através dos métodos de agrupamento de otimização de Tocher e da ligação média não ponderada entre grupos, baseada na distância de Mahalanobis, além de avaliar a contribuição relativa dos caracteres para a divergência genética e a rede de correlações de acordo com as relações entre os grupos de variável qualidade, comprimento e massa. A variável que mais contribuiu para a divergência genética foi o comprimento total da plântula, sendo que o efeito recíproco não apresentou padrão consistente nas combinações híbridas estudadas.

Abstract: Characteristics related to seed quality have been rarely used in studies on the genetic diversity of passion fruit. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity between progenies constituted by hybrids and reciprocals, based on seed emergence and vigor traits. On the 28th day, emergence percentage, emergence speed index, shoot length, root length and total length of seedling; dry weight, number of normal seedlings and 100-seed weight were evaluated in a completely randomized design experiment with 20 progenies (hybrids and reciprocals) and four replications (50 seeds). Genetic diversity was determined using the Tocher optimization clustering methods and the unweighted pair group method, based on the Mahalanobis distance, as well as evaluating the relative contribution of the traits to genetic divergence and the correlation network, according to the relations between groups of quality, length and mass variables. The most contributing variable to genetic divergence was the total length of seedlings, the reciprocal effect did not present a consistent pattern in the studied hybrid combinations.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso de redes neurais artificiais em comparação à modelagem por meio de modelos lineares generalizados na predição de resistência à ferrugem em café arábica (Coffea arabica). Foram utilizados 245 indivíduos provenientes de uma população F2, oriundos da autofecundação do híbrido F1 H511-1, resultante do cruzamento da cultivar suscetível Catuaí Amarelo IAC 64 (UFV 2148-57) e do genitor resistente Híbrido de Timor (UFV 443-03). Os 245 indivíduos foram genotipados com 137 marcadores. Realizaram-se análises com redes neurais artificiais e com modelos lineares generalizados sob o enfoque bayesiano. As redes neurais identificaram quatro marcadores importantes pertencentes a grupos de ligação que foram recentemente mapeados, enquanto o modelo generalizado bayesiano identificou somente dois marcadores pertencentes a esses grupos. Foram observadas taxas de erro de predição inferiores (1,60%) para predizer a resistência à ferrugem em café arábica, quando foram utilizadas as redes neurais artificiais em vez de modelos lineares generalizados sob o enfoque bayesiano (2,4%). Os resultados mostraram que as redes neurais artificiais são uma abordagem promissora para predizer a resistência à ferrugem em café arábica.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of artificial neural networks in comparison with Bayesian generalized linear regression to predict leaf rust resistance in Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica). This study used 245 individuals of a F2 population derived from the self-fertilization of the F1 H511-1 hybrid, resulting from a crossing between the susceptible cultivar Catuaí Amarelo IAC 64 (UFV 2148-57) and the resistant parent Híbrido de Timor (UFV 443-03). The 245 individuals were genotyped with 137 markers. Artificial neural networks and Bayesian generalized linear regression analyses were performed. The artificial neural networks were able to identify four important markers belonging to linkage groups that have been recently mapped, while the Bayesian generalized model identified only two markers belonging to these groups. Lower prediction error rates (1.60%) were observed for predicting leaf rust resistance in Arabica coffee when artificial neural networks were used instead of Bayesian generalized linear regression (2.4%). The results showed that artificial neural networks are a promising approach for predicting leaf rust resistance in Arabica coffee.