Comparative efficiency of three selection methods in Dactylis glomerata L.and Agropyron cristatum L.

Two populations, one non-improved of Dactylis glomerata and one improved of Agropyron cristatum were selected in an isolated spaced plant environment (80 cm) by three selection procedures: (1) Mass honeycomb selection (MHS), (2) pedigree honeycomb selection (PHS) and (3) pedigree honeycomb selection -combined criterion (PHS-CC). The third procedure is a between-families sel ection based on increased family mean and reduced family coefficient of var iation (CV). Response to selection assessed in sward trials in the first an d second harvest year was effective for the three procedures, which ranked PHS-CC > PHS > MHS. Evaluation was based on consistent efficiency as measur ed by both cloned and half-sib families. The precision of assessing progeny performance under sward conditions on the basis of single plant evaluation in the isolation environment, increased with a reduction in competition am ong plants, the use of moving-ring selection, and the application of high s election pressures (1.6%). The efficiency of selection between unimproved f amilies increased when families were selected concurrently for high family mean and reduced family coefficient of variation.