Multitrait selection of pumpkin genotypes aimed at reducing the growth habit and improving seed production

Abstract

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne) has high food importance due to the high nutritional value of its fruit and seeds. Its seed oil is composed of ∼70% unsaturated fatty acids, and its production can be improved by increasing the number of plants per area. Pumpkin plants with reduced growth habits can be grown in shorter spacing and produce smaller fruits, but have a greater quantity of fruits per area. This study aimed to select from F2, BC1:1, and BC1:2 populations pumpkin genotypes with shorter internodes and higher seed productivity for oil production using the factor analysis and ideotype design (FAI‐BLUP) selection index. An augmented block design (ABD) was used with four replications. The traditional model of ABD analysis was compared with the spatial model to verify the presence of errors in the local and global trends in the experimental area. There was a significant difference for all traits evaluated in both the ABD and spatial models. Based on the Akaike information criterion, the model with the best fit for all characteristics was the ABD, which was efficient in guaranteeing the independence of the residues and the absence of errors in local and global trends. In general, the characteristics expressed high values of individual heritability and accuracy. Three common factors explained the seven characteristics studied, presenting a variability of 70.98%. Six of the seven characteristics showed desirable gains of up to 63.85%. The FAI‐BLUP index allowed the selection of superior pumpkin genotypes with a smaller size and higher seed productivity for oil production.

Multitrait selection in seedless grape hybrids in semiarid regions of Brazil

“…Although proposed only recently, the FAI‐BLUP index has already been used efficiently in (i) the evaluation and selection of sorghum hybrids for biomass increase and energy cogeneration (Oliveira et al., 2019; Silva et al., 2018); (ii) soybean selection for biodiesel production (Woyann et al., 2020); (iii) selection of superior common bean progenies (Rocha et al., 2019); (iv) selection of Jatropha curcas L. genotypes for bioenergetic purposes (Rodrigues et al., 2020); (v) selection of superior pumpkin genotypes with smaller size and higher seed yield for oil production (Oliveira et al., 2020); (vi) combined selection in maize (Peixoto et al., 2021); (vii) simultaneous selection of mangaba based on eleven agronomic traits (Almeida et al., 2021); (viii) selection of early soybean progenies that are more erect and have higher grain yield potential (Volpato et al., 2021); (ix) and selection of superior wheat genotypes for grain yield, tiller number and grain weight per plant (Meier et al., 2021).…”

“…The efficiency of this selection index has been reported for the improvement of different crops (Almeida et al., 2021; Meier et al., 2021; Oliveira et al., 2019, 2021; Peixoto et al., 2021; Rocha et al., 2019; Silva et al., 2018; Volpato et al., 2021; Woyann et al., 2020). However, no references were found for the use of the FAI‐BLUP index in the genetic improvement of grapevines.…”