Evaluation of Three Sugar beet Breeding Methods

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Abstract
Breeding methods capitalizing principally on additive genetic variance were studied for their effect on root weight and percentage sucrose in sugar beets. Superior phenotypic selections were made from a genetically broad-based monogerm population. They were polycrossed and a sexually propagated. Recurrent selections for high general combining ability were made within the most superior polycrossed progeny lines. From asexual propagations, polycrossed seed, and recurrent selections, 5 populations were synthesized. One population was developed by mass selection, 2 by the polycross breeding method, and 2 by recurrent selection for general combining ability. A sucrose advance was demonstrated in the 2 populations from recurrent selections. A root weight advance was indicated in the 2 populations produced by polycross methods. Joint consideration of both characters revealed little difference between breeding methods in relation to gross sugar yield. The estimated additive genetic variance component for sucrose percentage accounted for more than 1/2 of the total genetic variance. Additive genetic variance for root weight was negligible relative to the nonadditive component. The breeding methods relying on additive gene effects should be particularly valuable as the 1st stage of a breeding program capitalizing on additive and nonadditive gene action for sucrose percentage.

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