Heritability of fruit shape in pears

• Published in: Euphytica Vol. 112; no. 1; pp. 1 - 7
• Main Authors: WHITE, A. G, ALSPACH, P. A, WESKETT, R. H, BREWER, L. R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-01-2000; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Cultivars; Fruits; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic improvement; Genetics; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Heritability; Offspring; Pears; Plant breeding; Pyrus communis; Seedlings; Variance analysis; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; Yield, quality, earliness, varia; New Zealand; Asia; Europe; Oceania; Pyrus communis; Shape; Rosaceae; Genetic parameter; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Selection pressure; Developmental stage; Calculation; Height; Fruit tree; Width; Genetic gain; Statistical analysis; Pear; Fruit; Varietal selection; Seedlings; Progeny; Phenotype; Morphology; Genetic improvement; Spermatophyta; Heritability; Curvature; Cultivar
• ISSN: 0014-2336; 1573-5060
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1003761118890

Heritabilities for each of three different height and width ratios describing fruit shape were estimated from measurements on a population of seedlings comprising 17 families of European and Asian pear parentage in the Hort Research pear cultivar breeding programme. In families with European cultivars as parents, the pyriform curvature in the upper, or stem end, half of the fruit was also quantified and heritabilities estimated. Heritabilities were computed using parent-offspring regression and from consideration of the variance components. Heritabilities estimated from parent-offspring regression were generally high and higher than those estimated from variance component analysis, although within the limits of error. Heritability estimates for the height: maximum width ratio were > 0.5 by both methods of estimation indicating that fairly rapid genetic gain could be expected.