ABSTRACT
The technique of combining data from individual observations with data on family means seems to be more promising for improving response to selection for single traits in partially inbred populations. This chapter describes and illustrates methods for assigning relative importance to different traits in a breeding program, developing objectives in terms of an ideal genotype, and choosing parents to develop populations with suitable mean values or sufficient genotypic variability. This standardized partial regression coefficient represents the relative importance of the trait in determining overall worth as judged by a knowledgeable plant breeder. An ideal genotype is a succinct way of specifying the objectives of a breeding program. Specifying an ideal is a subjective exercise. However, once an ideal has been specified and estimates of relative importance have been determined for the important traits in the crop, objective methods are available for choosing the best set of parents for the plant breeding program.
