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The objective of this work was to assess the genetic parameters and to estimate genetic gains in young rubber tree progenies. The experiments were carried out during three years, in a randomized block design, with six replicates and ten plants per plot, in three representative Hevea crop regions of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Twenty-two progenies were evaluated, from three to five years old, for rubber yield and annual girth growth. Genetic gain was estimated with the multi-effect index (MEI). Selection by progenies means provided greater estimated genetic gain than selection based on individuals, since heritability values of progeny means were greater than the ones of individual heritability, for both evaluated variables, in all the assessment years. The selection of the three best progenies for rubber yield provided a selection gain of 1.28 g per plant. The genetic gains estimated with MEI using data from early assessments (from 3 to 5-year-old) were generally high for annual girth growth and rubber yield. The high genetic gains for annual girth growth in the first year of assessment indicate that progenies can be selected at the beginning of the breeding program. Population effective size was consistent with the three progenies selected, showing that they were not related and that the population genetic variability is ensured. Early selection with the genetic gains estimated by MEI can be made on rubber tree progenies.

The objective of this work was to assess the genetic parameters and to estimate genetic gains in young rubber tree progenies. The experiments were carried out during three years, in a randomized block design, with six replicates and ten plants per plot, in three representative Hevea crop regions of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Twenty-two progenies were evaluated, from three to five years old, for rubber yield and annual girth growth. Genetic gain was estimated with the multi-effect index (MEI). Selection by progenies means provided greater estimated genetic gain than selection based on individuals, since heritability values of progeny means were greater than the ones of individual heritability, for both evaluated variables, in all the assessment years. The selection of the three best progenies for rubber yield provided a selection gain of 1.28 g per plant. The genetic gains estimated with MEI using data from early assessments (from 3 to 5-year-old) were generally high for annual girth growth and rubber yield. The high genetic gains for annual girth growth in the first year of assessment indicate that progenies can be selected at the beginning of the breeding program. Population effective size was consistent with the three progenies selected, showing that they were not related and that the population genetic variability is ensured. Early selection with the genetic gains estimated by MEI can be made on rubber tree progenies. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os parâmetros genéticos e estimar ganhos genéticos em progênies jovens de seringueira. Os experimentos foram realizados durante três anos, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com seis repetições e dez plantas por parcela, em três regiões representativas da heveicultura paulista. Vinte e duas progênies foram avaliadas, dos três aos cinco anos de idade, quanto à produção de borracha e incremento anual do caule. O ganho genético foi estimado com o índice multiefeitos (IME). A seleção pela média das progênies proporcionou maior ganho genético do que a seleção baseada em indivíduos, já que os valores de herdabilidade das médias de progênies foram maiores do que os da herdabilidade individual, para ambas as variáveis, em todos os anos de avaliação. A seleção das três melhores progênies quanto à produção de borracha proporcionou um ganho de seleção de 1,28 g por planta. Os ganhos genéticos estimados pelo IME com dados das primeiras avaliações (dos 3 aos 5 anos) foram altos em geral, para produção de borracha e incremento anual do caule. Os elevados ganhos genéticos obtidos para incremento anual no primeiro ano de avaliação indicam que as progênies podem ser selecionadas no início do programa de melhoramento. O tamanho efetivo da população foi condizente com as três progênies selecionadas e mostrou que elas não são aparentadas e que a variabilidade genética da população está garantida. A seleção precoce, com os ganhos genéticos estimados pelo IME, pode ser feita em progênies de seringueira.