Estimation of heritability and response to selection for cut-flower yield in gerbera

Summary Heritabilities and responses to selection for cut flower yield were estimated for a population of gerbera. Broad-sense heritabilities averaged 42 percent, but may be as high as 66 percent. Narrow sense heritabilities averaged 68 percent when based on half-sib families, and averaged 60 percent when based on parent-offspring regression. These results suggest that most genetic variance for flower yield is additive.However, estimates of realized heritability averaged only 16 percent and inbreeding depression was estimated to be at least 38 percent, suggesting a major role for non-additive genetic variance. Nonetheless, selection for cut flower yield is expected to be successful.