What are the practical uses of trait heritability estimates in crop breeding programs? Does trait with high heritability mean it is of high economic value in a breeding program? How to approach or target lowly heritable traits ( traits with low heritability estimates) but of substantial economic value in crop improvement programs?
Estimation of heritability is very important to selection of parents in breeding program. The ratio of genetic variance and phenotypic variance expressed the proportion of phenotype due to its genotype of an individual. If we understand the expression of an individual is not affected by the environment. High heritability will provide the chance of selection of a parent to use in breeding program.
A high heritability of the traits suggests that selection based on phenotypic performance would be more effective i.e. traits will be less affected by the environment. However, high heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per mean (GAM) is more effective and reliable in selection for breeding programs.
The trait of your concern is more important rather than a highly heritable trait for research.
Heritability increases when genetics are contributing more variation or because non-genetic factors are contributing less variation; what matters is the relative contribution. Heritability is specific to a particular population in a particular environment. So multi-location trails might be a solution.
high heritable traits are easy to select in early generation (oligogenic traits) and low h2 traits are at later generation (yield traits) because of GxE
All high heritable traits are not economically important
I am not perceiving any link between a trait heritability and its economic value.
Selection for low heritable traits is often achieved through indirect selection (i.e. by selecting a high heritable trait positively correlated to target low heritable trait).
Modern breeding is, however, more accurate using molecular markers.
I agreed with Jean Mondo Mubalama Modern breeding is more accurate with molecular markers. We can identify many traits with molecular techniques.
I do agree with @Md Sarowar Alam. He gave the right answer.
Selecting higher heritability values along with higher genetic advance can play better role.
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