Selection for Betalain Pigment Concentrations and Total Dissolved Solids in Red Table Beets

Abstract

Three cycles of half-sib family selection were practiced in a previously unselected table beet (Beta vulgaris L.) population to produce high pigment-high solids (HPHS) and high pigment-low solids (HPLS) populations. A selection index (total pigment concentration/percent dissolved solids) was used to improve the HPLS population and another selection index (total pigment concentration × percent dissolved solids) was used to improve the HPHS population. Rates of gain for total pigment were 22.2% per cycle in the HPHS population and 18.4% per cycle in the HPLS population. The HPHS and HPLS populations showed directional but nonsignificant changes for dissolved solids: 3.0% and - 2.6% per cycle, respectively. The rate of gain per cycle for selection index value (29.1%) was greater in the HPHS population than in the HPLS population (21.2%). Realized heritabilities were high for total pigment (0.81 and 0.82) and selection index (0.74 and 0.74) and low for dissolved solids (0.25 and 0.27) in both populations. Variation among families was greater for total pigment than for dissolved solids.