RESUMO
The study aimed at investigating which of four traits is the most representative of eggshell strength (destructive eggshell thickness measurement, eggshell weight, egg specific gravity, ultrasonic measurement of eggshell thickness) and could be used for selection purposes. To date, investigations focused mostly on pairwise (eggshell strength vs. another eggshell feature) analyses, resulting in two-, maybe three-trait, models when eggshell traits are considered. Since the covariance estimates are also model dependent, we collected five eggshell traits within one analysis, which better reflects what occurs in nature. The eggs were collected from 4571 Rhode Island White and 2426 Rhode Island Red hens. A multiple-trait animal model and the REML method were employed to compute variance components for calculation of heritabilities and genetic correlations between the traits. On average, the highest correlations were found between the destructive measurement and the other quality traits. It is concluded, however, that the ultrasonic eggshell thickness measurement, also with high genetic correlations with the other traits and leaving an egg intact for further handling, can suit best, as an indirect criterion, the selection for eggshell strength.
Assuntos
Análise de Variância , Casca de Ovo/crescimento & desenvolvimentoRESUMO
The study aimed at investigating which of four traits is the most representative of eggshell strength (destructive eggshell thickness measurement, eggshell weight, egg specific gravity, ultrasonic measurement of eggshell thickness) and could be used for selection purposes. To date, investigations focused mostly on pairwise (eggshell strength vs. another eggshell feature) analyses, resulting in two-, maybe three-trait, models when eggshell traits are considered. Since the covariance estimates are also model dependent, we collected five eggshell traits within one analysis, which better reflects what occurs in nature. The eggs were collected from 4571 Rhode Island White and 2426 Rhode Island Red hens. A multiple-trait animal model and the REML method were employed to compute variance components for calculation of heritabilities and genetic correlations between the traits. On average, the highest correlations were found between the destructive measurement and the other quality traits. It is concluded, however, that the ultrasonic eggshell thickness measurement, also with high genetic correlations with the other traits and leaving an egg intact for further handling, can suit best, as an indirect criterion, the selection for eggshell strength.(AU)
Assuntos
Casca de Ovo/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Análise de VariânciaRESUMO
Despite the economic importance of beef cattle production in Brazil, female reproductive performance, which is strongly associated with production efficiency, is not included in the selection index of most breeding programmes due to low heritability and difficulty in measure. The body condition score (BCS) could be used as an indicator of these traits. However, so far little is known about the feasibility of using BCS as a selection tool for reproductive performance in beef cattle. In this study, we investigated the sources of variation in the BCS of Nellore beef cows, quantified its association with reproductive and maternal traits and estimated its heritability. BCS was analysed using a logistic model that included the following effects: contemporary group at weaning, cow weight and hip height, calving order, reconception together with the weight and scores of conformation and early finishing assigned to calves at weaning. In the genetic analysis, variance components of BCS were estimated through Bayesian inference by fitting an animal model that also included the aforementioned effects. The results showed that BCS was significantly associated with all of the reproductive and maternal variables analysed. The estimated posterior mean of heritability of BCS was 0.24 (highest posterior density interval at 95%: 0.093 to 0.385), indicating an involvement of additive gene action in its determination. The present findings show that BCS can be used as a selection criterion for Nellore females.
Assuntos
Constituição Corporal/fisiologia , Cruzamento/métodos , Bovinos/fisiologia , Carne/normas , Modelos Biológicos , Fenótipo , Seleção Genética , Animais , Teorema de Bayes , Constituição Corporal/genética , Peso Corporal/genética , Brasil , Bovinos/genética , Feminino , Reprodução/genéticaRESUMO
The importance of grains of legume plants for human feeding, specially black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), has stimulated the breeders to select genotypes with high grains yield potential and wide adaptability to different conditions of cultivation in southern Brazil. The present work aimed at evaluating the reflexes of the genotype x environment interaction and its implications in the genetic gains of different selection approaches. The results revealed that the component of the interaction between genotype and environment overestimates the prediction of genetic parameters such as genetic variance and heritability. Differences among these estimates were observed apparently due to a high percentage of the complex part of the interaction. Besides, the genetic gains obtained with the direct selection were always superior to the indirect response. Comparatively, the pair of environments 1x3 revealed correlated response inferior and of opposite sign to the other estimates for the other pairs of environments studied. The first environment was the one which accumulated the higher interaction genotype by environment. It can be concluded that the interaction component has great relevance in the estimates of genetic gains, evidencing that this influence should be considered in the selection and in the recommendation of specific genotypes of bean breeding programs.
A importância das leguminosas de grãos na alimentação humana, principalmente do feijão preto (Phaseolus vulgaris), tem estimulado os melhoristas a selecionar genótipos com alto potencial de rendimento de grãos e com adaptabilidade às diferentes condições de cultivo do sul do Brasil. O presente trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar os reflexos da interação genótipo x ambiente e suas implicações nos ganhos genéticos com diferentes critérios de seleção. Os resultados revelaram que o componente da interação genótipo x ambiente superestima a predição dos parâmetros genéticos, como por exemplo a variância genética e a herdabilidade. As diferenças observadas entre estas estimativas parecem ocorrer devido à alta percentagem da parte complexa da interação. Além disto, os ganhos genéticos obtidos com a seleção direta foram sempre superiores à resposta indireta. Comparativamente, o par de ambientes 1x3 revelou uma resposta correlacionada inferior e de sinal contrário às demais estimativas para os outros pares de ambientes estudados neste trabalho. O primeiro ambiente foi o que mais acumulou a interação genótipo x ambiente. Portanto, pode ser concluído que o componente da interação tem grande relevância nas estimativas dos ganhos genéticos, evidenciando que essa influência deva ser considerada na seleção e na recomendação de genótipos específicos nos programas de melhoramento genético da cultura do feijoeiro.
RESUMO
The importance of grains of legume plants for human feeding, specially black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), has stimulated the breeders to select genotypes with high grains yield potential and wide adaptability to different conditions of cultivation in southern Brazil. The present work aimed at evaluating the reflexes of the genotype x environment interaction and its implications in the genetic gains of different selection approaches. The results revealed that the component of the interaction between genotype and environment overestimates the prediction of genetic parameters such as genetic variance and heritability. Differences among these estimates were observed apparently due to a high percentage of the complex part of the interaction. Besides, the genetic gains obtained with the direct selection were always superior to the indirect response. Comparatively, the pair of environments 1x3 revealed correlated response inferior and of opposite sign to the other estimates for the other pairs of environments studied. The first environment was the one which accumulated the higher interaction genotype by environment. It can be concluded that the interaction component has great relevance in the estimates of genetic gains, evidencing that this influence should be considered in the selection and in the recommendation of specific genotypes of bean breeding programs.
A importância das leguminosas de grãos na alimentação humana, principalmente do feijão preto (Phaseolus vulgaris), tem estimulado os melhoristas a selecionar genótipos com alto potencial de rendimento de grãos e com adaptabilidade às diferentes condições de cultivo do sul do Brasil. O presente trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar os reflexos da interação genótipo x ambiente e suas implicações nos ganhos genéticos com diferentes critérios de seleção. Os resultados revelaram que o componente da interação genótipo x ambiente superestima a predição dos parâmetros genéticos, como por exemplo a variância genética e a herdabilidade. As diferenças observadas entre estas estimativas parecem ocorrer devido à alta percentagem da parte complexa da interação. Além disto, os ganhos genéticos obtidos com a seleção direta foram sempre superiores à resposta indireta. Comparativamente, o par de ambientes 1x3 revelou uma resposta correlacionada inferior e de sinal contrário às demais estimativas para os outros pares de ambientes estudados neste trabalho. O primeiro ambiente foi o que mais acumulou a interação genótipo x ambiente. Portanto, pode ser concluído que o componente da interação tem grande relevância nas estimativas dos ganhos genéticos, evidenciando que essa influência deva ser considerada na seleção e na recomendação de genótipos específicos nos programas de melhoramento genético da cultura do feijoeiro.