Efficiency of indirect selection for green biomass production of Urochloa ruziziensis

Abstract

We aimed to measure the efficiency of visual selection of plant vigor for green biomass production of U. ruziziensis using single-and multitrait approaches to maximize the predictive accuracy of the genetic value. The green biomass production and plant vigor of 254 U. ruziziensis clones were measured over nine evaluation cuttings to determine the efficiency of these approaches for production improvement. Individual and multicutting analyses were performed under single-trait and multitrait approaches using mixed models. The efficiency of visual selection was assessed by measuring plant vigor based on direct and indirect genetic gains. Plant vigor showed a high genetic association with green biomass and could be selected for production, especially in the initial phases of breeding programs. The multitrait approach was superior to the single-trait approach in predicting the genetic value of the clones, and it can be used in U. ruziziensis breeding programs.

Association between seed production traits in Urochloa spp.

“…In breeding programs, Urochloa species can be used to obtain hybrids that gather desirable characteristics such as high yield, percentage of leaves, regrowth capacity, protein content, digestibility, low fiber and lignin, resistance to pests and diseases, and seed yield (Dias et al., 2022; Figueiredo et al., 2012; Gouveia et al., 2020; Mateus et al., 2015; Matias et al., 2020; Valle et al., 2008). The lack of technical knowledge for the production of forage seeds, combined with adverse weather conditions, has caused a drop in production; consequently, there was an increase in the price of seeds (Catuchi et al., 2019).…”