Identification of Genes Controlling Pod Length in Spring Rapeseed, Brassica napus L., and their Utilization for Yield Improvement

Experiments were undertaken to determine the inheritance of pod length in a cross with spring rapesecd, Brassica napus, and to assess the value of pod length as a criterion of selection for high seed yield. Analyses of patterns of variation in F₂; and backcross populations derived from a cross between a short-pod line TB42 and long-pod line CA553 indicated that much of the variation in pod length could be attributed to two major genes interacting in a complementary manner. Short-pods were produced when cither one or both genes were homozygous for the recessive allele. Analyses of F₃ progenies of selected F₂ and inbred-backcross lines derived from the same cross supported the two-gene hypothesis but also indicated that the effects of the major genes on pod length were possibly modified by genes of minor effect. Field testing of families derived from random intermating between F₂, plants of the TB42 × CA553 cross showed that number of pods per plant varied independently of pod length, but seed weight per pod tended to increase with increasing pod length. As a result, families with the longest pods generally had significantly higher yields than those with short pods. It was concluded that yield improvement in B. napus could be achieved through introgression of long-pod genes into cultivars with an appropriate genetic background to ensure that selection for the long-pod character would be accompanied by an increase in seed weight per pod with little or no reduction in number of pods per plant.     

Direct and indirect selection for yield in chickpea

Summary The efficiency of indirect selection for seed yield was compared with direct selection for yield per se in chickpea. A total of 2500 single F₂ plants, derived from 50 crosses with 50 plants from each cross, were divided into five sub-populations (SP1 to SP5) of 500 plants each by including 10 plants from each of the 50 crosses. The five sub-populations were advanced upto F₆ by exercising 10% selection intensity for four successive generations for number of pods per plant in SP1, number of seeds per pod in SP2, seed weight in SP3, seed yield in SP4 and random selection in SP5. The efficiency of direct and indirect selection for yield was evaluated by comparing groups of 50 F₆ lines from each sub-population. SP1 and SP3 F₆ lines showed higher mean grain yield than the other three methods. SP1 and SP3 were found to be almost equally efficient in developing F₆ lines which were significantly superior to the check. This suggests that indirect selection for yield via pod number and seed weight is more efficient than direct selection for yield.     

Estimation of additive, dominance and digenic epistatic interaction effects for certain yield characters in Vigna sesquipedalis Fruw

Inheritance of yield and yield contributing characters were investigated using generation mean analysis, utilising the means of six basic populations viz., P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, BC₁P₁ and BC₁P₂ in four crosses of Vigna sesquipedalis. The analysis reiterated that the importance of dominance (h) gene effects for pod yield/plant and pods/plant as compared to additive (d) gene effects. However, significant and positive additive effects were noticed for pod yield/plant, pods/plant, pod weight and seed weight in different crosses. The three types of gene interactions (additive, dominance and epistasis) were significantly involved for pods/plant in cross KU 7 ×KU 8. Among the digenic epistatic interactions, both additive ×additive (i) and dominance × dominance (l) contributed more for pod yield/plant and pods/plant, however, it varied among the crosses. Populations having earliness can be developed as indicated by reducing dominance effects. Pedigree selection and heterosis breeding is suggested to exploit the fixable and non fixable components of variation respectively in Vigna sesquipedalis. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Influence of Row Spacing and Seeding Rate on Seed Yield and Yield Components of Forage Turnip (Brassica rapa L.)

The effects of four row spacings (17.5, 35.0, 52.5 and 70.0 cm) and five seeding rates (50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 viable seeds m^?2) on seed yield and some yield components of forage turnip (Brassica rapa L.) were evaluated under rainfed conditions in Bursa, Turkey in the 1998–1999 and 1999–2000 growing seasons. Plant height, stem diameter, pods/terminal raceme, total pods/plant, seeds/pod and primary branches/plant were measured individually. The number of plants per unit area was counted and the lodging rate of the plots was scored. The seed yield and 1000‐seed weight were also determined. Row spacing and seeding rate significantly affected most yield components measured. The number of plants per unit area increased with increasing seeding rate and decreasing row spacing. Plant height was not greatly influenced by row spacing and seeding rate, but higher seeding rates reduced the number of primary branches and the stem diameter. The number of pods/main stem was affected by row spacing and but not by the seeding rate. Also, the number of seeds per pod was not affected by either the row spacing or the seeding rate. In contrast, the number of pods per plant clearly increased with increasing row spacing, but decreased with increasing seeding rate. The plots seeded at narrow row spacings and at high seeding rates were more sensitive to lodging. Seeding rate had no significant effect on seed yield in both years. Seed yield was similar at all seeding rates, averaging 1151 kg ha^?1. However, row spacing was associated with seed yield. The highest seed yield (1409 kg ha^?1) was obtained for the 35.0‐cm row spacing and 200 seeds m^?2 seeding rate combination without serious lodging problems.     

Evaluation of Early Generation Testing in Chickpea1)

Inter-generation correlations between F₂-F₃, F₂-F₄ and F₃-F₄ in six crosses of chickpea were calculated by using individual plant/progeny means. In general, correlation values in case of plant height, seeds per pod and 100-seed weight were higher between F₃ and F₄ than those between F₂ and F₃ and F₂ and F₄. However, inter-generation correlations were mostly non-significant in case of pods per plant and grain yield. These results clearly show that selection in F₃ can be fruitful for seeds per pod and 100-seed weight. However, selection for pods per plant and grain yield in early generations may not show any relationship with later generation performance for these traits.     

Yield Structure of Winter Faba Beans Grown in Northern Germany in Dependence of Different Environments, Seed Rates, Sowing Rates and Genotypes

Two series of field trials were performed at three sites in Schleswig-Holstein between 1981 and 1988 to inquire into the yield structure of European winter types of Vicia faba L. and to compare their yield potential with that of spring types. Due to low winter survival, 6 winter types could be evaluated only in 4 environments in dependence of 1–3 sowing times (series α: seed rate 30/m²) and 1 winter type in 5 environments in dependence of 3 sowing times and 3 seed rates (series β: seed rate 15, 30, 45/m²). Seed yield of winter type averaged 410 g/m² (D.M.) surpassing spring types by about 14 %. Environments caused a considerable variation in yield (275–620 g/m²) and in each yield component of winter types, while sowing dates and seed rates hardly affected the components seeds/pod and seed weight, which displayed stable genotypic rank orders. Compensative forces among the components plants/m², tillers/plant and pods/tiller, were established. Plant densities of less than 10/m² in spring, generally led to seed yield below 350 g/m². Variation between 15–30 plants/m² due to environments, sowing times or seed rates were frequently not fully compensated by tillering of plants, but often variation of the thus formed yield potential was reduced by pod set of tillers resulting in 210–270 pods/m². The direction of correlations of pods/tillers with tillers/plant and plants/m² differed due to experimental conditions whereas negative correlations between pods/tiller and tillers/ m² were generally evident. Tillering was significantly influenced by the sowing time, though the increase because of early sowing was often covered by compensative effects of different plant densities. A genotypic capability to produce reproductive tillers was demonstrated using an approach which considered different plant densities and compensative forces. Neither a genotypic capability of tillers to set pods nor direct effects of environments or sowing time on pod set were established.     

Inheritance of yield components and their correlation with yield in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

Summary The inheritance of yield components was studied in a cross of two varieties of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), and the relationships among the components and yield were examined in the F₂ of a cross and in a trial of 22 varieties. The main objective was to determine the suitability of using the components as selection criteria for increasing seed yield. All the components appeared to be under polygenic control and transgressive segregation in the F₂ was observed for pod length and number of seeds per pod. Narrow sense heritability estimates ranged from 19.8% for number of pods per plant to 60.3% for pod length. Most of the genotypic correlations between pairs of yield components were significant. Correlation of yield per plant was negative with pod length, but positive with the other components. Number of pods per plant was consistently correlated with yield. However because of low heritability for number of pods per plant, this component may only be used as a preliminary selection criterion while the final selection is based on yield itself.     

Genetic studies for seed size and grain yield traits in kabuli chickpea

Seed size, determined by 100-seed weight, is an important yield component and trade value trait in kabuli chickpea. In the present investigation, the small seeded kabuli genotype ICC 16644 was crossed with four genotypes (JGK 2, KAK 2, KRIPA and ICC 17109) and F₁, F₂ and F₃ populations were developed to study the gene action involved in seed size and other yield attributing traits. Scaling test and joint scaling test revealed the presence of epistasis for days to first flower, days to maturity, plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, number of seeds per pod, biological yield per plant, grain yield per plant and 100-seed weight. Additive, additive?×?additive and dominance?×?dominance effects were found to govern days to first flower. Days to maturity and plant height were under the control of both the main as well as interaction effects. Number of seeds per pod was predominantly under the control of additive and additive?×?additive effects. For grain yield per plant, additive and dominance?×?dominance effects were significant in the cross ICC 16644?×?KAK 2, whereas, additive?×?additive effects were important in the cross ICC 16644?×?JGK 2. Additive, dominance and epistatic effects influenced seed size. The study emphasized the existence of duplicate epistasis for most of the traits. To explore both additive and non-additive gene actions for phenological traits and yield traits, selection in later generations would be more effective.     

Phenotypic recurrent selection in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) based on performance of S2 progenies

Summary The effect of a recurrent selection procedure for improving seed yield per plant was evaluated in common bean. Progress was registered after three cycles of recurrent selection with S2 progeny evaluation performed on the grain yield/plant. Gain from selection was estimated by field testing 45 random S2 lines from each of the C0, C1 and C2 populations. Response to selection for seed yield/plant was 6 g from C0 to C1 and 4.4 g from C1 to C2. The seed yield improvement was due principally to an increase in pods/plant; little contribution was provided by the 1000-seed weight and seeds/pod traits. Broad-sense heritability and genotypic variance for grain yield remained high in all cycles which suggests further gain from additional selection cycles. Grain yield/plant is significantly correlated to pods/plant and seeds/pod traits in all cycles, indicating that plants with favourable combinations of these traits could be identified. The proposed recurrent selection procedure appears to be effective in improving the population and extracting superior genotypes for varietal development.     

Single plant selection for yield in lentil

Summary Individual plant selection for yield in lentil is problematic at a commercial crop density primarily because of inter-plant entanglement by tendrils. Visual plant selection for yield was compared with random selection in the F₅ at three plant densities (66, 133 and 200 seeds/m²) by an evaluation of F₇ progeny yields over two seasons in two populations of lentil. Random plant sampling was as effective as visual plant selection in isolating high-yielding F₇ lines. The plant density of the selection environment did not affect the response to selection. The correlations between the seed number of selected F₅ plants and the mean yield of their F₇ progenies were r=+–0.26 and –0.06 in two populations, indicating the lack of positive response to plant selection for seed number. The results show that 1) random sampling is the most economic of the methods tested of plant selection for yield and 2) the plant density of the environment for plant selection can be low enough to avoid inter-plant entanglement by tendrils, allowing a focus in plant selection on characters, other than yield, of importance to the breeding program and with a higher heritability than yield.     

Inheritance pattern of mungbean yellow mosaic disease resistance and gene action for different traits in mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) under protected and unprotected field conditions

Understanding of mungbean yellow mosaic disease resistance is crucial to develop resistant varieties to combat worldwide threat of the disease epidemics. This study was aimed to determine nature of disease resistance in terms of number of genes governing it and genetics of related traits. Experimental site was located on 31.43°N and 73.06°E with an elevation of 186 m, and evaluation trials were conducted during spring season due to high disease epidemics in this season. Two contrasting genotypes, that is, NM 6‐68‐2 (resistant) and NM 1‐32‐1 (highly susceptible), were crossed to raise six populations, that is, P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, BC₁ and BC₂ for evaluation under protected and unprotected field conditions using chi‐square test and generation mean and variance analysis. It was discovered that disease resistance was governed by two major genes with additive effects. Disease resistance can easily be incorporated through backcrossing and direct selection following hybridization. Direct selection should be practised at earlier generation for plant height, chlorophyll contents and number of seeds per pod due to preponderance of additive effects whereas at later generations for seed yield per plant, 100 seed weight, harvest index, number of pods per plant and pod length due to involvement of duplicate epistasis.     

Response to selective pressure in early generation progenies of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Summary Combining high fiber strength with high yield in upland cotton (Gossipium hirsutum L.) was been difficult. The cross combination, 69–120 × 6M-10, was chosen for this study because of the divergence of parents for fiber strength, seeds per boll and crop maturity. Forty F₂ plants were selected in 1974 solely on the basis of visual yield and 20 plants were randomly chosen to serve as a bulk check. The F₃ progenies, the bulk check, the parents and a commercial check were tested in 1975. From these results, five groups were established, consisting of four (10%) progenies each to represent high seed/boll, low seeds/boll, high fiber strength, low fiber strength and high yield in the 1976 test of F₄ progenies. This experiment was conducted to (a) compare the contributions of yield components to lint yield among groups of early generation progenies (F₃ and F₄) and (b) determine the phenotypic correlations between yield and quality attributes. The yield components, bolls/m², seeds/boll, fibers/seed, mean fiber length and micronaire, were included as well as fiber strength.No significant lint yield differences were found among the five groups. Progenies within groups did, however, differ in lint yield. The low and high seeds boll groups gave similar yield and fiber quality results. The low and high fiber strength groups gave similar yield but longer fiber was obtained with the high strength group.Stepwise regression analyses estimates show that the number of bolls produced per unit area, although the major contributor to lint yield for all groups, contributed only 66.9% of the total variation in the progeny group selected for high yield, with fibers/seed, mean fiber length, micronaire and seeds/boll accounting for 13.2%, 8.1%, 6.0%, and 5.8%, respectively. Correlations between the various yield components and fiber strength were low and mainly insignificant, indicating that minor alterations might be made in later generations without serious consequences.Potential gains from second-stage selective pressure upon yield-per-boll components following initial selection for lint yield are discussed.     

Early Generation Selection for Grain Yield in Narrow-Leaf Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.)

Experiments were conducted with early segregating generations of a selected narrow-leaf lupin cross to determine the effectiveness of selection for yield based on alternative criteria. F2 plants were selected on the basis of seed yield and several other yield-related characters to generate separate F3 populations. Randomly selected plants from each population were grown over the summer (off-season) in a glasshouse to generate F4 populations. Analyses of relationships between F2 plant measurements and F3 progeny mean yields revealed significant correlations only for those characters with the highest heritabilities - flowering time, 100 seed weight and harvest index. However, selection for the earliest flowering F2 plants followed by selection within this group of plants with the highest number of pod bearing branches would result in the greatest increase in F3 mean yield. The F2-derived F4 populations with the highest seed yields were those obtained by selection for total plant dry weight, number of pod bearing branches and number of pods per plant. Improvement in commercial crop yield should therefore be obtained through selection in early generations for those characters contributing to the greatest number of pods per unit area. A scheme involving selection for early flowering and high number of pod bearing branches in the F2 combined with replicated yield tests in the F4 is proposed.     

Analysis of quantitative variability for seed yield and related characters in Lotus corniculatus L. cv. Leo

Summary Quantitative variability for seed yield and six other characters was analysed in Lotus corniculatus L. cv. Leo. The material consisted of 144 polycross progenies and 100 parents.Wide variability existed for all characters. The characters with the greatest variability were seed yield, forage grading and plant height. The polycross progeny test was employed to study the general combining ability of the parents. Highly significant differences existed for all seven characters under study.Parent-offspring genotypic and phenotypic correlations were high and significant for all characters except genotypic correlations for seed yield and seeds per pod. High h² values (broad sense) were obtained for seed size and days to flowering. Traits with moderate to high h² were seed yield (71% in parents, 64% in progenies), plant height, forage grading, and seeds per pod. The character pods per inflorescence had the lowest h².Positive estimates of % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabiGaaiaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiqabo8agaqcaK% aaavaabeqaceaaaeaacaqGYaaabaGaaeiraaaaaaa!3A89!\[{\text{\hat \sigma }}\begin{array}{*{20}c} {\text{2}} \\ {\text{D}} \\ \end{array} \] were obtained only for seed size. The ratio of dominance variance to additive variance indicated partial dominance for this character. Except for seed yield, in all other cases these estimates had very high sampling errors. In all cases except pods per inflorescence and seeds per pod high positive estimates of % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabiGaaiaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiqbeo8aZzaaja% qbaeqabiqaaaqcaauaaiaaikdaaKaaGeaacaqGbbaaaaaa!3B30!\[\hat \sigma \begin{array}{*{20}c} 2 \\ {\text{A}} \\ \end{array} \] were obtained.The data indicated that it may be possible to simultaneously improve seed yield and maintain forage yield. Seed yield had positive and significant associations with seed size, seeds per pod and pods per inflorescence. The associations of days to flowering with forage grading (negative) and with pods per inflorescence (positive) were also significant.     

Reproductive Abscission and Yield of Irrigated and Drought Stressed Cowpea

Two experiments were conducted under field conditions to evaluate reproductive abscission, seed yield and yield components of three cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] genotypes. In the first experiment, level of abscission and yield of two cultivars, California Blackeye Pea No. 5 (CA-5) and Speckle Purple Hull (SPH), and one experimental line (AZ-54) were studied. In the second experiment, effect of drought stress on abscission at three nodal positions, seed yield, and yield components of CA-5 were studied. Abscission in both experiments was determined by counting scars left by dropprd reproductive structures including floral buds, open flowers, and immature pods. Abscission of CA-5 and AZ-54 in the first experiment ranged between 68 and 76 % while that of SPH ranged between 86 and 89 %. CA-5 and AZ-54 retained two to three pods per peduncle, and SPH retained only one mature pod per peduncle. Average seed yields of SPH and AZ-54, respectively, were 45 and 50 % of CA-5. Drought stress in the second experiment did not affect production of floral buds Peduncle^?1 (average of 10) but significantly increased percent reproductive abscission and decreased pod retention of CA-5. Abscission in the bottom two-third nodes increased from 82 % in well-irrigated plants to 93 % in non-irrigated plants. This increase in abscission corresponded to nearly 60 % reduction in pod retention. The number of pods per peduncle in the bottom two-third nodes decreased from 1.9 in well-irrigated plants to only. 77 in non-irrigated plants. The increase in abscission and decrease in pod retention with increasing intensity of drought was greatest in the bottom one-third nodes. Drought stress did not affect abscission and pod retention in the top one-third nodes. Stress also decreased peduncles plant^?1, seeds pod^?1, and dry matter and seed yield plant^?1 but did not affect seed weight and harvest index. The decrease in seed yield was largely due to reductions in pods plant^?1 and seeds pod^?1. The reduction in the number of pods and, therefore, seed yield due to stress was because of reductions in the number of peduncles plant^?1 and increases in reproductive abscission. It is concluded external conditions that increase abscission beyond that of normal occurrence affect seed yield adversely.     

Effect of selection for pollen grain size on various traits in common bean

Summary Selection among microgametophytes usually exploits variation in pollen grain germination. Studies of variation in pollen grain size in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) suggested that selection for size might lead to changes in sporophytic traits. To determine whether microgametophytic selection based on size would affect pollen grain size in subsequent generations or sporophytic traits that were correlated with pollen grain size, pollen grains from three crosses were separated into two size categories by sieving and then used to pollinate cv. Diacol Calima. Selection resulted in changes in pollen grain diameter for pollen from F₁, F₂ and F₃ plants for all crosses. In vitro germination indicated no differences between vigor of large and small grains, but extraction and sieving reduced germinability. F₁ seed from two of the crosses with size-selected pollen varied in weight according to pollen grain size, but in subsequent generations, the effect disappeared. Both size categories of selected pollen resulted in F₂ progeny with reduced numbers of seeds per pod as compared to controls, suggesting that the size selection process may have resulted in indirect selection for traits reducing seed set. The overall results suggested that genes determining pollen grain size in bean have little or no effect on sporophytic traits such as seed size and seed yield.     

Yield components,harvest index and plant type in relation to yield differences in field pea genotypes

Summary The effectiveness of yield components, harvest index and morphological characteristics as selection criteria among four field pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes was examined. Genotypes were grown at a wide range of plant populations (9 to 400 plants m^-2) to maximise environmental diversity.Both biological and seed yields approximately doubled from 9 to 100 plants m^-2. This response flattened from 100 to 400 plants m^-2. Differences among the genotypes were found only at 225 and 400 plants m^-2. Analysis of the yield components highlighted the plasticity and large genotype by environment interactions of field peas. The numbers of pods per plant and peas per pod were maximised when each genotype was grown as spaced plants, but the low plant numbers meant seed yields per unit area were at their lowest.Genotypic differences for plant harvest index (PHI) were also only found at 225 and 400 plants m^-2. Broad sense heritability estimates indicated that direct selection for PHI was not feasible. The inference from the yield component and PHI results was that alternative selection criteria such as physiological or morphological characteristics may be necessary for improved yield potential. Classification of each genotype indicated that low seedling vigour may be a positive attribute for crop plants of semi-leafless and conventionally leafed field peas. Selection based on any single plant attribute is unlikely to lead to dramatic improvements in the yield potential of field peas. Selection should be based on plant characteristics rather than on differences in yield components.     

Expected correlated responses in selecting dry beans for tolerance to soil compaction

Summary Parents and F₂ progenies of an 8×8 diallel cross were grown under non-compacted and compacted soil conditions. Soil compaction reduced yield, pods per plant, and seeds per pod; however, an increase in seed wieght and no effect for pod length were observed. With the exception of pods per plant, the remaining traits had larger genetic variances under non-compacted soil conditions. Phenotypic correlations involving yield and related traits were similar under the two conditions. Tolerance to soil compaction and mean performance over the two soil conditions were defined. Genetic correlations in terms of: (1) the ratio of genetic variances under the stress and non-stress conditions, and (2) the correlation between performance under the two conditions, were calculated and discussed.Journal Article No. 10900 of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Improving adaptation to drought stress in white pea bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): Genotypic effects on grain yield,yield components and pod harvest index

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important food legume crop in Africa and Latin America where rainfall pattern is unpredictable. The objectives were to identify better yielding common bean lines with good canning quality under drought, and to identify traits that could be used as selection criteria for evaluating drought‐tolerant genotypes. In all, 35 advanced lines were developed through single seed descent and evaluated with a standard check under drought and irrigated conditions at two locations over 2 years in Ethiopia. Grain yield (GY), pod number per m², seed number per m² and seed weight decreased by 56%, 47%, 49% and 14%, respectively, under drought stress. Eight genotypes had better yield with good canning quality under drought compared to the check. Moderate to high proportion of genetic effects were observed under drought conditions for GY and yield components compared to genotype × environment effects. Significant positive correlations between GY and pod harvest index (PHI) in drought suggest that PHI could be used as an indirect selection criterion for common bean improvement.     

Evaluation of Pedigree and Single Seed Descent Selection Methods for Cultivar Development in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

Three crosses of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp) were used to assess the effectiveness of two selection procedures in cowpea. The selection procedures were pedigree selection (PD) and single seed descent selection (SSD). Lines developed through each procedure were yield tested and selected at F₆ and F₇ for PD and SSD, respectively. The selected lines for both procedures were compared at F₈ for grain yield per plant (YLD), number of pods per plant (NPO), and pod development period (PDP), in two locations. Lines developed through both procedures differed more in their population means than in the performance of their top 10% or highest yielding lines. There was no consistent relationship between magnitude of genetic variability and percentage of superior lines obtained from each procedure. Both procedures have been effective in producing superior genotypes for yield and number of pods. The PD method produced superior transgressive segregants in two out of the three crosses for PDP. SSD allowed a more rapid generation than PD.