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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #81964

Title: ESTIMATES OF HERITABILITY AND GENETIC CORRELATION FOR FIVE TRAITS IN FEMALE HOP ACCESSIONS

Author
item Henning, John
item HAUNOLD, A - OSU, CORVALLIS, OR
item NICKERSON, G - OSU, CORVALLIS, OR
item GAMPERT, U - OSU, CORVALLIS, OR

Submitted to: Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/5/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Little has been published on the heritability of quality traits in female hops (Humulus lupulus L.). This paper is the first to report narrow sense heritabilities and genetic correlations for yield, alpha-acid levels, beta-acid levels, hop storage index (HSI), and essential oil content. Significant differences (P 0.05) among maternal families were observed for all five traits. Narrow sense heritability values were highest for alpha-acid levels, moderate for beta-acid levels and HSI, and low for essential oil content. Heritability value for yield was more difficult to ascertain significance due to the high standard error associated with the estimate. Significant negative genetic correlations were estimated between alpha-acids and beta-acids, alpha-acids and yield, HSI and yield, and essential oil content and yield. Significant positive genetic correlations observed were for beta-acids with yield, HSI with alpha-acids and essential oil content and alpha-acids. The information obtained from this research increases hop breeders ability to make informed decisions regarding breeding protocol for these five economic traits.

Technical Abstract: Little has been published on the heritability of traits in hops (Humulus lupulus L.). This paper is the first to report narrow sense heritabilities and genetic correlations for economic traits in female hop plants. Seven female and 14 male accessions were crossed using a North Carolina Mating Design I. Data were collected on yield, alpha-acids, beta-acids, hop storage index (HSI), and essential oil content. Significant differences (P< 0.05) among maternal families were observed for all five traits. Narrow sense heritability values were highest for alpha-acids (h**2=0.88 + 0.17), moderate for beta-acids content (h**2=0.35 + 0.02) and HSI (h**2=0.31 + 6.1 x 10**-6), and low for essential oil content (h**2=0.12 + 5.3 x 10**-4). Heritability value for yield was more difficult to ascertain significance due to the high standard error associated with the estimate (h**2=0.20 + 1463). Significant negative genetic correlations were estimated between alpha-acids and beta-acids (r= - 0.42), alpha-acids and yield (r= - 0.66), HSI and yield (r= - 0.63), and essential oil content and yield (r= - 0.38). Significant positive genetic correlations observed were for beta- acids with yield (r= 0.84), HSI with alpha-acids (r= 0.28) and essential oil content and alpha-acids (r= 0.43). The information obtained from this research should enable hop breeders to make informed decisions regarding breeding protocol for these five economic traits.