POSTHARVEST LONGEVITY OF CUT-FLOWER GERBERA .2. HERITABILITY OF VASE LIFE

Intensive selection to improve vase life was performed on a sample pop ulation of Gerbera x hybrida Hort. from a broad source of germplasm. P rogeny of a 5 x 5 diallel cross yielded estimates of narrow sense heri tability (h(2) = 0.28) and broad sense heritability (H-2 = 0.28) for v ase life based on a mean of 1.96 measurements per plant. Additive gene action is postulated to control this character since the difference b etween total genotypic variance and additive genetic variance componen ts was small. Repeatability (r = 0.57) based on a single measurement p er plant was moderately high. Heritability estimates were also determi ned based on 1, 2, 3, 5, and infinity measurements per plant. Heritabi lity ranged from 22% to 39%.