SELECTING COMMON BEAN BREEDING POPULATIONS VIA MIXED MODELS

Choosing breeding populations in a common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) breeding program via recurrent selection is a crucial step since it maximizes the effort to find superior inbred lines. The application of the mixed models methodology (REML/BLUP) in predicting breeding values has shown good results in animal and perennial crops breeding programs. Conversely, studies on the application of this methodology to annual crops are still scarce. The present work aimed to use the REML/BLUP methodology to select breeding populations of a common bean breeding program via recurrent selection. Thirty-five F-3 populations were evaluated. Individual plants data were assessed for grain yield and hypocotyl diameter, and the genetic potential of the population was estimated via the mixed models and the finks and Pooni's methodologies. A selection index was applied to the selection among and within population, considering both characters simultaneously, using the population and individual BLUP means. REML/BLUP has shown to be a feasible methodology to predict and select the potential of breeding populations, considering more than one character. Selecting individual plants within population provides positive genetic gain estimates for both characters. BLUP breeding values are fundamental to the choice of the number of populations and single plants to be conducted in a common bean breeding program via recurrent selection.