Hybrid maize breeding with doubled haploids: Comparison between selection criteria

The optimum allocation of breeding resources is crucial for the efficiency of breeding programmes. The objectives were to (i) compare selection gain ΔGk for finite and infinite sample sizes, (ii) compare ΔGk and the probability of identifying superior hybrids (Pk), and (iii) determine the optimum allocation of the number of hybrids and test locations in hybrid maize breeding using doubled haploids. Infinite compared to finite sample sizes led to almost identical optimum allocation of test resources, but to an inflation of ΔGk. This inflation decreased as the budget and the number of finally selected hybrids increased. A reasonable Pk was reached for hybrids belonging to the q = 1% best of the population. The optimum allocations for Pk(q) and ΔGkwere similar, indicating that Pk(q) is promising for optimizing breeding programmes.