WHEAT COEFFICIENT OF PARENTAGE (WCOP). AN INFORMATION SYSTEM

Abstract

It is presented an information system of Wheat Coefficients of Parentage (WCOP) as a calculation tool to easy the work of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeders, by helping them to select the best parents and to evaluate the genetic diversity. The system creates pedigree trees (pedigree) of each wheat line selected by the breeder – through crosses and selection history—including their ancestry. Later in this process the trees are included in a “Multiple Parentage Tree”, relating all the lines that are common to each other, and simultaneously calculating the WCOP. The calculation is based on Mendel’s genetic theory, on the algorithm of Rodgers and Cox, and on the rules applied by Souza. WCOP is based on the analysis and design of information systems, relational databases and analysis of algorithms. It was developed under Visual BASIC for Windows. It is a smart and user-friendly application, since it takes advantage of the Windows’ environment facilities. As an example we analyzed the results obtained by WCOP in the following high yielding lines: ERA, ARRAS, TASSILO and CYRANO. ERA does not have any ancestor in common with the remaining three lines, while between ARRAS and TASSILO exists a 50 % of similarit; between TASSILO and CYRANO exists 25 % and between CYRANO and ARA only 15 % of similarity.