An appraisal of early generation selection in the central Queensland sugarcane improvement program

Data from the Central Queensland Sugarcane Improvement Program was analysed to detem1ine if current selection practices are operating at optimum levels. The data suggested that family selection in Stage 1 based mainly on the selection index, net merit grade (NMG), was effective. However, the data also suggested that the selection process could be made more efficient by increasing the selection intensity (individual clone selection) for some of the top NMG families. Stage 2 of the program involves evaluating a large number of clones in unreplicated, single row plots in one location while, in Stage 3. a selected few clones are evaluated in replicated, multiple row plots at several locations. There was a poor correlation in the NMG of clones between Stages 2 and 3_ Thus, it is necessary to investigate more efficient selection strategies for this stage of the program.