EFFICIENCY OF VISUAL SELECTION ON LOWLAND RICE (ORYZA-SATIVA L) GRAIN-YIELD

This work was carried out aiming to verify if visual selection among F -2 plants is effective based on grain yield; if there are differences among breeder skills; and if the early selection, accomplished by each one of the plants individually, is efficient in improving the perform ance of families in advanced generations. Three populations from the t hree-way crosses were used. Eleven breeders varying in their experienc e on the crop, performed visual selection of individual plants with hi gher grain yield in F-2 generation. It was realized that the breeders showed different skillness for visually identifying higher yielding pl ants; in addition, it was found that such skillness is not associated to the individual's experience to identify the highest yielding plants . The progenies, from visually selected plants in the F-2 generation, yielded similarly to the ones obtained randomly, showing that the earl y selection was not effective.