One hundred S1 progenies and two hundred and twenty-five S2 progenies from the popcorn population 'Beija-flor' were assessed for grain yield and volume expansion. The experiments were carried out in a Universidade Federal de Viçosa experimental field, Coimbra, MG, in the growing season of 1998/99. Genetic and phenotypic parameters were estimated and the predicted gains were calculated according to several selection criteria. A significant genotypic variability was observed for yield and the volume expansion. Although a negative genotypic correlation has been observed among the characters, the selection indices were efficient in identification of the progenies that allowed for predicted simultaneous gains in grain yield and volume expansion. The families S2 and S3 from families S1 and S2, respectively, were evaluated in the growing season of 1999/2000. Based on the results from this evaluation, the obtained gains were calculated for each selection criteria, and the selection efficiency was evaluated. A satisfactory concordance occurred between the predicted and actual gains for the S1 progenies. The four criteria providing the highest predicted gains are the same ones that provided the four highest gains, although not in the same order. Also, those two criteria providing the lowest estimates of the gains are the ones that provided the two lowest gains, when considering popping expansion. In relation to S2 progenies, a concordance occurred concerning the direction of the changes predicted in five criteria, when the grain yield was considered, as well as in six criteria when considering CE.
popcorn improvement; Selection; Inbred families; Selection index
