Half-sib selection is the most common maize intrapopulational breeding method, since it is simple, rapid and efficient. In Brazil, popcorn breeding programs are necessary to the development of this crop. Few commercial populations and hybrids are available. The objectives of this work were to increase grain yield and the expansion volume (EV) of a popcorn population, with half-sib selection in one-year cycle, and to obtain information about the efficiency of between and within family selection. There is genetic variability in the population for EV, 100-grain weight and yield. The between and within selective procedures changed quality level, but not yield potential. Based on predicted gains for EV and yield, the between selection was more efficient. Neverthless, 89.5% of the EV realized gain was due to within selection. Therefore, the within family selection based on EV can be made in the winter season.
popcorn maize; genetic parameters; intrapopulational breeding
