Selection index for identifying high-yielding groundnut genotypes in irrigated and rainfed environments

Abstract

Selection of high yielding genotypes to be carried over to subsequent selection cycles in a breeding programme can sometimes be accomplished using a suitable index of secondary traits that may be relatively less sensitive to genotype-by-environment interactions than yield. We used the concept of correlated response to selection to measure the relative efficiency of nine selection indices. The results showed that the selection index, based on median and semi inter-quartile range, which was actually used in identifying high yielding genotypes, had an efficiency that is comparable to the best index, the latter being a modification of the Elston index.