Doctor of Philosophy / Genetics Interdepartmental Program / Jesse Poland / The Green Revolution is credited with saving billions of lives by effectively harnessing new genetic resources and breeding strategies to create high-yielding varieties for countries lacking adequate food security. To keep the next billion people in a state of food security, plant breeders will need to rapidly incorporate novel approaches and technologies into their breeding programs. The work presented here describes new genomic and phenomic strategies and tools aimed at accelerating genetic gain in plant breeding. Plant breeders have long relied on regional testing networks to evaluate new breeding lines across many locations. These are an attractive resource for both retrospective and contemporary analysis due to the vast amount of data available. To characterize genetic progress of plant breeding programs in the Central Plains, entries from the Southern Regional Performance Nursery dating back to 1992 were evaluated in field trials. The trend for annual improvement was 1.1% yr⁻¹, matching similar reports for genetic gain. During the same time period, growth of on-farm yields stagnated. Genomic selection, a promising method to increase genetic gain, was tested using historical data from the SRPN. A temporal-based model showed that, on average, yield predictions outperformed a year-to-year phenotypic correlation. A program-based model found that the predictability of a breeding program was similar when using either data from a single program or from the entire regional collection. Modern DNA marker platforms either characterize a small number of loci or profile an entire genome. Spiked genotyping-by-sequencing (sGBS) was developed to address the need in breeding programs for both targeted loci and whole-genome selection. sGBS uses a low-cost, integrated approach that combines targeted amplicons with reduced representation genotyping-by-sequencing. This approach was validated using converted and newly-designed markers targeting known polymorphisms in the leaf rust resistance gene Lr34. Plant breeding programs generate vast quantities of data during evaluation and selection of superior genotypes. Many programs still rely on manual, error-prone methods to collect data. To make this process more robust, we have developed several open-source phenotyping apps with simple, intuitive interfaces. A contemporary Green Revolution will rely on integrating many of these innovative technologies into modern breeding programs.

Genetic gain studies in the past have been used to evaluate the historical improvement of different traits and give insight into what magnitudes of gain might be possible in the future. Additionally, they have been carried out to defend the role of genetics during periods of stagnant or decreasing yield trends. This study was conducted over a 2-year period (2003 and 2004) and included nine current or obsolete cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars grown in 5 plant densities designed to evaluate varying levels of interplant competition. Plant densities were single plant culture with plants spaced 3m x 3m, 2m x 2m, 1m x 1m, 1m x 0.3m, and two commercial populations with plants spaced 1m x 0.1m. Results were analyzed for each trait to determine whether genetic gains are interrelated with tolerance to interplant competition or strictly under genetic control. The rates of genetic gain for lint yield were highest in the 1m x 0.1m, 1m x 0.3m, and 1m x 1m treatment with slopes of 8.7, 8.2, and 7.1 kg ha-1 yr-1 respectively. The slopes were each significantly smaller in the 2m x 2m and 3m x 3m spaced populations with gains of 3.6 and 1.5 kg ha-1 yr-1 respectively, implying that for lint yield, genetic gains have been made for tolerance to interplant competition. Similarly, modern maize hybrids only out perform obsolete hybrids at higher plant densities. Genetic gain for lint yield, fiber length, fiber strength, and fiber micronaire made in the context of tolerance to interplant competition is due in large part to the excellent performance of Deltapine 491 (2002) at higher plant populations.

Genetic gain studies in the past have been used to evaluate the historical improvement of different traits and give insight into what magnitudes of gain might be possible in the future. Additionally, they have been carried out to defend the role of genetics during periods of stagnant or decreasing yield trends. This study was conducted over a 2-year period (2003 and 2004) and included nine current or obsolete cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars grown in 5 plant densities designed to evaluate varying levels of interplant competition. Plant densities were single plant culture with plants spaced 3m x 3m, 2m x 2m, 1m x 1m, 1m x 0.3m, and two commercial populations with plants spaced 1m x 0.1m. Results were analyzed for each trait to determine whether genetic gains are interrelated with tolerance to interplant competition or strictly under genetic control. The rates of genetic gain for lint yield were highest in the 1m x 0.1m, 1m x 0.3m, and 1m x 1m treatment with slopes of 8.7, 8.2, and 7.1 kg ha-1 yr-1 respectively. The slopes were each significantly smaller in the 2m x 2m and 3m x 3m spaced populations with gains of 3.6 and 1.5 kg ha-1 yr-1 respectively, implying that for lint yield, genetic gains have been made for tolerance to interplant competition. Similarly, modern maize hybrids only out perform obsolete hybrids at higher plant densities. Genetic gain for lint yield, fiber length, fiber strength, and fiber micronaire made in the context of tolerance to interplant competition is due in large part to the excellent performance of Deltapine 491 (2002) at higher plant populations.

Diss. (sammanfattning). Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2003. / Härtill 7 uppsatser.

É inegável a importância do melhoramento genético. Na literatura reporta-se que na ausência do melhoramento a produtividade dos cultivos agrícolas poderia ter diminuído. Deste modo, é fundamental avaliar o progresso genético para otimizar a eficiência da seleção e avaliar as técnicas empregadas. O progresso genético foi estudado em várias culturas no Brasil e no mundo. Apesar de feitas interpretações do relacionamento entre caracteres, não foram encontrados na literatura métodos ou estimativas relacionadas ao progresso simultâneo quando mais de um caráter sofre seleção. Como os melhoristas se atém a seleção de mais de um caráter, ao estimar o progresso genético dever-se-ia considerar esse aspecto. Nesse sentido, vislumbrou-se a possibilidade de se reunir a informação de mais de um caráter, tal qual um índice em que restrições sobre o original de Smith representam os progressos individuais estimados. Isto posto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar os progressos genéticos no melhoramento do tabaco para os caracteres de interesse e apresentar uma alternativa interpretativa de reunir os progressos individuais na estimativa do progresso simultâneo. Mensurou-se o progresso genético dos caracteres agronômicos e morfológicos ao longo de 40 anos de melhoramento de tabaco do grupo varietal Virginia pela avaliação de nove linhagens oriundas de quatro fases distintas no delineamento casualizado em blocos com quatro repetições em quatro locais representativos da cultura. Com base nas estimativas e no desenvolvimento teórico do índice com restrições apresentado, reuniram-se as estimativas referentes aos progressos individuais como uma forma de representar o progresso genético simultâneo. A análise de regressão mostrou ganhos significativos por era de 275,29kg há-1 para a produtividade de folhas curadas, o que representa um progresso de 10% da média do ciclo inicial. A altura de plantas, número de folhas expandidas, bem como a largura e comprimento das folhas também mostraram incrementos significativos. Devido à interação genótipos por ambientes, os progressos estimados na média dos quatro locais não são bons preditores dos progressos por local. O índice de qualidade geral e a remuneração do produtor não apresentaram os progressos esperados em razão de essas avaliações terem sido realizadas apenas nas fases finais da seleção. A estimativa do progresso simultâneo aferiu um incremento de 6% por era no cômputo dos caracteres avaliados e reflete o sucesso na seleção e melhoramento simultâneo desses caracteres. O índice desenvolvido não necessita arbitrar pesos econômicos, atende às restrições, e mostrou-se eficaz em reunir os progressos genéticos dos caracteres além de poder ser empregado com o propósito da seleção em níveis não independentes de seleção. / The importance of plant breeding is unquestionable. In the literature, it is reported that in the absence of crop improvement crop yield could have decreased. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the genetic progress in order to optimize the efficiency of the selection procedures and evaluate the employed techniques. Data on genetic progress were studied throughout the world as well as in Brazil. Besides the understanding of the underlying relationships between traits, there are no current methods or estimates regarding simultaneous progress, i.e., whenever more than one trait undergo selection. As the breeders generally carry out selection considering more than one trait, when estimating the genetic progress, this particular issue should be considered. In this context, it has become possible to summarize information from more than one trait, as an index, based on the classic Smith index with constraints which represent the estimates of individual traits progress. Thus, the objective of the present work was to estimate genetic progress in a tobacco breeding program and to present an interpretative and promising alternative to address the individual progress and hence estimate the simultaneous progress. The genetic progress of agronomic and morphological traits was estimated over a period of 40 years in which selection was carried out for obtaining superior inbred lines of the Virginia variety group. Nine inbred lines, derived from four distinct eras, were evaluated in randomized complete block designs with four replicates in four Brazilian representative sites of the tobacco crop. Based on both the results and theoretical developments of the constrained index, the estimates of individual progress were combined in order to represent the simultaneous genetic progress. The regression analysis showed a significant gain per era of 275.29kg ha-1 for cured leaf weight, corresponding to a progress of 10% relative to the estimated intercept. Traits such as plant height, expanded leaves, as well as width and length of leaves also showed a significant increase. Given the genotype by environment interaction, the estimated marginal progress of the four sites was not a good predictor of the progress at each site. On the other hand, the leaf quality index and the corresponding commercial value did not show the aimed trend due to the fact that both evaluations were performed at the final trials. The simultaneous progress increased the set of traits by 6% per era relative to the intercept. This reflects the sucess of selection and simultaneous improvement of traits. The proposed index does not require attributing economic weights, satisfies the restrictions, is effective in summarizing the genetic progress of multipletraits and can be applied considering multitrait selection through non independent culling levels.

Os percevejos são considerados pragas-chave da cultura da soja, uma vez que se alimentam diretamente da parte reprodutiva das plantas danificando vagens e sementes. Sendo assim, os objetivos deste trabalho foram i) propor uma alternativa eficiente para a seleção de plantas resistentes em populações grandes; ii) identificar genótipos com excelente desempenho agronômico e resistência ao complexo de percevejo em diferentes ambientes; e iii) comparar a eficiência de dois métodos de seleção. Para a verificação do PSB (peso de sementes boas) como critério para a seleção de genótipos com resistência, dois experimentos foram conduzidos a campo, com e sem controle químico de insetos. Índices foram empregados para a validação do PSB como um critério eficiente para a seleção de genótipos produtivos e com resistência. Na etapa seguinte, o PSB foi empregado para a seleção de genótipos a partir de uma população de linhagens endogâmicas recombinantes (LERs) obtidas do cruzamento de IAC-100 (resistente) com CD-215 (suscetível). O desempenho das linhagens obtidas pelo método de descendência de uma única vagem foi comparado ao de linhagens obtidas pelo método genealógico. Nos diferentes experimentos, conduzidos em condições de campo, sob infestação natural de insetos, foram avaliados: número de dias para a maturidade (NDM), altura da planta na maturidade (APM), período de granação (PEG), acamamento (AC), valor agronômico (VA), produtividade de grãos (PG), peso de cem sementes (PCS), retenção foliar (RF) e peso sementes boas (PSB). Baseado nos resultados foi possível concluir que o PSB é uma excelente estratégia para a seleção de genótipos com resistência ao complexo de percevejos, e com elevado potencial produtivo. Na população de LERs, tomando-se apenas aqueles genótipos com PSB mínimo de 2908,26 kg ha-1 (perdas aceitáveis de 20% em relação à média de PG) o ganho de seleção (GS) foi de 665,4 e 482,4 kg ha-1 safra 2012/13. Ou seja, o parâmetro empregado na seleção foi eficiente na identificação dos genótipos mais produtivos e com resistência ao complexo de percevejos. As estimativas dos componentes de variância mostraram a elevada influência da interação genótipo por ambiente sobre os caracteres PG e PSB, que tiveram as menores estimativas de herdabilidade (23 e 34% respectivamente). Ambos os métodos descendência de uma única vagem (SPD) e genealógico foram eficientes na geração de progênies superiores para produtividade e resistência ao complexo de percevejos. Tão logo, independe do método empregado o cruzamento CD-215 x IAC-100 apresenta potencial genético para a geração de progênies que aliem produtividade elevada e resistência ao complexo de percevejo. / Stink bugs are considered key pests of soybean, because they feed directly on reproductive parts of the plant, causing damage to the seeds and pods. Thus, the present study aims to i) propose an efficient alternative for the selection of resistant plants in large populations; ii) identify lines with excellent agronomic performance and resistance to members of the stink bug complex, in different environments; and iii) compare the efficiency of two selection methods. To evaluate the good seed weight (GSW) as a criterion for selection of resistant genotypes, two experiments were conducted in the field, with and without chemical control of insects. To validate GSW as an efficient criterion for the selection of productive genotypes with resistance indices were used. In the next step, GSW was used for the selection of genotypes from a population of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) obtained from the cross IAC- 100 (resistant) x CD-215 (susceptible). The performance of the lines obtained by single pod descent was compared to lines obtained by the pedigree method. The following characters were evaluated in field, under different locations with natural infestation by insects: number of days to maturity (NDM), plant height at maturity (PHM), grain filling period (GFP), lodging (L), agronomic value (AV), grain yield (GY), 100 seed weight (HSW), leaf retention (LR) and good seeds weight (GSW). Based on the results, we concluded that the selection based on GSW is an excellent strategy for identifying genotypes with resistance to stink bugs, and high yield potential. In the RIL population, choosing only those genotypes with a minimum GSW of 2908.26 kg ha-1 (acceptable losses of 20% from the GY average) the selection gain (SG) was 665.4 and 482.4 kg ha-1, season 2012/13. The parameter used in the selection was effective in identifying the most productive genotypes with resistance to the stink bug complex. Estimates of variance components showed a major influence of genotype by environment interaction for GY and GSW, which had the lowest heritability estimates (23 and 34% respectively). The single pod descent (SPD) and pedigree methods were both efficient in generating superior progenies for yield and resistance to stink bugs. Independent of the method used, the CD-215 x IAC-100 cross has genetic potential to generate progenies that combine high productivity and resistance to pests in the stink bug complex.

Submitted by Helena Bejio (helena.bejio@unioeste.br) on 2017-06-23T00:49:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Diss_2017_Danimar_Dalla_Rosa (1).pdf: 1061392 bytes, checksum: 7ae5ec80ba398b9b90c1bedb5463bb47 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-23T00:49:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Diss_2017_Danimar_Dalla_Rosa (1).pdf: 1061392 bytes, checksum: 7ae5ec80ba398b9b90c1bedb5463bb47 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-22 / The objective of this work was to evaluate the components of grain yield and the productive potential of wheat genotypes at different growing seasons. The experimental design used was in radomized blocks with three replicates. Four identical experiments were implemented, referring to four sowing dates (31/03, 13/04, 27/04 e 08/05) in the year 2015, with 25 treatments (genotypes). It was evaluated the time in days of sowing to the gleaning and of the gleaning to physiological maturity, as well as the amount of day degrees accumulated for both periods, beyond plant height, number of spikes per square meter, spike size, number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, grain quality and productivity. The data collected were evaluated by the joint analysis model of experiments. Sowing times of the last decennial of april (04/27) and first decennial of may (05/08), associated with low temperatures during the vegetative phase and high temperatures during the reproductive phase tend to lengthen and shorten these respective phases of development, reflecting higher yields. The genotypes 19 and 21 stood out for the longer period comprised of sowing to the gleaning and smaller period comprised of the gleaning to the physiological maturity. Genotype 5 shows low plant height, being able to be compared to the genotypes indicated for cultivation CD 150 and Toruk. The genotypes 8 and 13, although they do not show higher yields, stand out in front of the others because they have larger spikes and larger number of grains and spikelets per spike, deserving attention in future works. The genotype 17 stands out for the higher yield, being able to be equated to the indicated genotypes for cultive CD 150 and Toruk in some growing seasons and surpassing these in others. Grain quality is strongly influenced by the climatic conditions during the reproductive phase of the crop and has a high relation with grain yield. / O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de avaliar os componentes do rendimento de grãos e o potencial produtivo de genótipos de trigo em diferentes épocas de cultivo. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados com três repetições. Foram implantados quatro experimentos idênticos, referentes a 4 épocas de semeadura (31/03, 13/04, 27/04 e 08/05), no ano de 2015, com 25 tratamentos (genótipos). Avaliou-se o tempo em dias da semeadura ao espigamento e do espigamento a maturidade fisiológica, a quantidade de graus- dia acumulados para ambos os períodos, bem como a altura de planta, número de espigas por m 2 tamanho de espiga, número de espiguetas por espiga, número de grãos por espiga, qualidade de grãos e produtividade. Os dados coletados foram avaliados pelo modelo de análise conjunta de experimentos. Épocas de semeadura do último decênio de abril (27/04) e primeiro decênio de maio (08/05), associadas a baixas temperaturas durante a fase vegetativa e altas temperaturas durante a fase reprodutiva tendem a alongar e encurtar estas respectivas fases de desenvolvimento da cultura, refletindo em maiores produtividades. Os genótipos 19 e 21 destacaram-se pelo maior período compreendido da semeadura ao espigamento e menor período compreendido do espigamento a maturidade fisiológica. O genótipo 5 apresenta baixa estatura de planta, podendo ser comparado aos genótipos indicados para cultivo CD 150 e Toruk.Os genótipos 8 e 13, apesar de não apresentarem maiores produtividades, sobressaem- se perante os demais por apresentar espigas maiores e com maior número de grãos e espiguetas por espiga, merecendo atenção em trabalhos futuros. O genótipo 17 destaca-se pelo maior rendimento, podendo ser equiparado aos genótipos indicados para cultivo CD 150 e Toruk em algumas épocas de cultivo e superando estes em outras. A qualidade de grãos sofre grande influência das condições climáticas ocorridas durante a fase reprodutiva da cultura e apresenta elevada relação com o rendimento de grãos.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2009. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden drei Modellrechnungen vorgestellt, die auf dem Selektionsindex basieren und mit denen der Nutzen genomischer Zusatzinformation auf aktuelle Selektionsstrategien für Reitpferde und Schweine ermittelt werden soll. In Kapitel eins werden sowohl die klassischen Instrumente der Tierzucht, der Selektionsindex, die ökonomische Modellierung und die Genfluss-Methode, als auch die genomische Selektion dargestellt. Zudem wird die Software ZPlan+, in welcher diese Instrumente miteinander kombiniert sind, kurz vorgestellt. Im zweiten Kapitel der Arbeit wird das Potenzial der genomischen Selektion für die Reitpferdezucht dargestellt. Der Zugewinn an Genauigkeit eines Zuchtwerts durch Hinzunahme genomischer Information wurde für drei praxisnahe Selektionsschritte betrachtet, nämlich für Pferde ohne Eigenleistung, Pferde mit Eigenleistung und Pferde mit Eigen- und Nachkommenleistungen. Die Modellrechnung zeigte, dass sich durch Hinzunahme genomischer Information besonders die Genauigkeit von Zuchtwerten junger Pferde ohne Eigen- oder Nachkommenleistung beträchtlich steigern ließe. Sobald Nachkommenleistungen unterstellt wurden war der Zugewinn an Genauigkeit durch genomische Information jedoch zu vernachlässigen. Für die praktische Pferdezucht ist die genomische Selektion daher vor allem für die Absicherung vorläufiger Zuchtzulassungen für junge Hengste nach der Körung und für leistungsgeprüfte Hengste ohne Nachkommenleistungen empfehlenswert. Im dritten Kapitel der Arbeit wurde untersucht, wie sich die Art der berücksichtigten Informationsquellen (konventionell oder genomisch) auf die Interaktion der Parameter genetische Korrelation, Heritabilität und ökonomische Gewichtung auswirkte. Als Vergleichsparameter wurde die Standardabweichung des jeweiligen Indexes herangezogen, welche sich direkt proportional zum Zuchtfortschritt verhält. Es wurden drei Indices mit zwei Zuchtzielmerkmalen verglichen, deren Informationsquellen in Anlehnung an die Schweinezucht gewählt wurden. Der erste Index wurde für ein Tier mit Eigenleistung aufgestellt, während im zweiten Index zusätzliche Vollgeschwisterleistungen angenommen wurden. Im dritten Index wurde die Eigenleistung mit genomischer Information für beide Zuchtzielmerkmale kombiniert. Die Genauigkeit der genomischen Zuchtwerte wurde durch Annahme unterschiedlich großer Referenzpopulationen variiert. Je mehr Information im Index berücksichtigt wurde, desto unabhängiger wurde die Standardabweichung des Indexes von den Parametern genetische Korrelation, Heritabilität und ökonomische Gewichtung. Dabei wurden für den Vollgeschwisterindex mit 7 Vollgeschwistern und den genomischen Indexes mit einer Referenzpopulation von 1.000 Tieren vergleichbare Ergebnisse gefunden. Die Anzahl von 1.000 Tieren in der Referenzpopulation kann somit als Mindestmaß für die Schweinezucht angenommen werden. Für geringere Heritabilitäten zeigte sich eine deutliche Überlegenheit des genomischen Indexes über den Vollgeschwisterindex. Im vierten Kapitel der Arbeit wurde ein Schweinezuchtprogramm optimiert. Dazu wurden verschiedene Zuchtziele und Selektionsstrategien gegen Ebergeruch verglichen. Das Zuchtziel war entweder die Selektion gegen den Gehalt der chemischen Leitkomponenten des Ebergeruchs, Androstenon, Skatol und Indol oder die Selektion gegen den, von Testpersonen bestimmten, Human Nose Score. Innerhalb der Selektion gegen die chemischen Komponenten wurden drei verschiedene Informationsquellen miteinander verglichen, nämlich eine Feldprüfung in Form einer Biopsie am lebenden Eber, genomische Selektion sowie die Kombination beider Informationen. Innerhalb der Selektion gegen den Human Nose Score wurden als Informationsquellen eine Stationsprüfung von Voll- und Halbgeschwistern des Selektionskandidaten sowie genomische Selektion miteinander verglichen. Das komplexe Zuchtprogramm wurde deterministisch mit der Software ZPlan+ modelliert. Bei der Selektion gegen die chemischen Komponenten des Ebergeruchs war der Zuchtfortschritt am höchsten, wenn als Informationsquelle die Eigenleistung in Form einer Biopsie der männlichen Selektionskandidaten genutzt wurde. Aufgrund der hohen Erblichkeit der Ebergeruchskomponenten war der Nutzen genomischer Zuchtwerte deutlich geringer und gleichzeitig teurer. Für die Selektion gegen den geringer erblichen Human Nose Score lieferte die genomische Selektion einen höheren Zuchtfortschritt als die Stationsprüfung der Geschwister des Selektions-kandidaten. Auch wenn der Human Nose Score als Zielmerkmal angesehen wurde, erwies sich eine Selektion gegen die chemischen Komponenten als zielführend, da der (korrelierte) naturale Zuchtfortschritt des Human Nose Scores bei Durchführung einer Biopsie deutlich höher war, als bei direkter Selektion gegen den Human Nose Score. Im fünften Kapitel wird das Potential der genomischen Selektion für die Reitpferde- und Schweinezucht diskutiert. Dabei wird besonders auf Möglichkeiten für die Vergrößerung der Referenzpopulation und der Kostenreduktion eingegangen. Für die Reitpferdezucht wer-den zusätzlich Möglichkeiten aufgezeigt, wie der Zuchtfortschritt mit konventionellen Methoden gesteigert werden könnte.

É inegável a importância do melhoramento genético. Na literatura reporta-se que na ausência do melhoramento a produtividade dos cultivos agrícolas poderia ter diminuído. Deste modo, é fundamental avaliar o progresso genético para otimizar a eficiência da seleção e avaliar as técnicas empregadas. O progresso genético foi estudado em várias culturas no Brasil e no mundo. Apesar de feitas interpretações do relacionamento entre caracteres, não foram encontrados na literatura métodos ou estimativas relacionadas ao progresso simultâneo quando mais de um caráter sofre seleção. Como os melhoristas se atém a seleção de mais de um caráter, ao estimar o progresso genético dever-se-ia considerar esse aspecto. Nesse sentido, vislumbrou-se a possibilidade de se reunir a informação de mais de um caráter, tal qual um índice em que restrições sobre o original de Smith representam os progressos individuais estimados. Isto posto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar os progressos genéticos no melhoramento do tabaco para os caracteres de interesse e apresentar uma alternativa interpretativa de reunir os progressos individuais na estimativa do progresso simultâneo. Mensurou-se o progresso genético dos caracteres agronômicos e morfológicos ao longo de 40 anos de melhoramento de tabaco do grupo varietal Virginia pela avaliação de nove linhagens oriundas de quatro fases distintas no delineamento casualizado em blocos com quatro repetições em quatro locais representativos da cultura. Com base nas estimativas e no desenvolvimento teórico do índice com restrições apresentado, reuniram-se as estimativas referentes aos progressos individuais como uma forma de representar o progresso genético simultâneo. A análise de regressão mostrou ganhos significativos por era de 275,29kg há-1 para a produtividade de folhas curadas, o que representa um progresso de 10% da média do ciclo inicial. A altura de plantas, número de folhas expandidas, bem como a largura e comprimento das folhas também mostraram incrementos significativos. Devido à interação genótipos por ambientes, os progressos estimados na média dos quatro locais não são bons preditores dos progressos por local. O índice de qualidade geral e a remuneração do produtor não apresentaram os progressos esperados em razão de essas avaliações terem sido realizadas apenas nas fases finais da seleção. A estimativa do progresso simultâneo aferiu um incremento de 6% por era no cômputo dos caracteres avaliados e reflete o sucesso na seleção e melhoramento simultâneo desses caracteres. O índice desenvolvido não necessita arbitrar pesos econômicos, atende às restrições, e mostrou-se eficaz em reunir os progressos genéticos dos caracteres além de poder ser empregado com o propósito da seleção em níveis não independentes de seleção. / The importance of plant breeding is unquestionable. In the literature, it is reported that in the absence of crop improvement crop yield could have decreased. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the genetic progress in order to optimize the efficiency of the selection procedures and evaluate the employed techniques. Data on genetic progress were studied throughout the world as well as in Brazil. Besides the understanding of the underlying relationships between traits, there are no current methods or estimates regarding simultaneous progress, i.e., whenever more than one trait undergo selection. As the breeders generally carry out selection considering more than one trait, when estimating the genetic progress, this particular issue should be considered. In this context, it has become possible to summarize information from more than one trait, as an index, based on the classic Smith index with constraints which represent the estimates of individual traits progress. Thus, the objective of the present work was to estimate genetic progress in a tobacco breeding program and to present an interpretative and promising alternative to address the individual progress and hence estimate the simultaneous progress. The genetic progress of agronomic and morphological traits was estimated over a period of 40 years in which selection was carried out for obtaining superior inbred lines of the Virginia variety group. Nine inbred lines, derived from four distinct eras, were evaluated in randomized complete block designs with four replicates in four Brazilian representative sites of the tobacco crop. Based on both the results and theoretical developments of the constrained index, the estimates of individual progress were combined in order to represent the simultaneous genetic progress. The regression analysis showed a significant gain per era of 275.29kg ha-1 for cured leaf weight, corresponding to a progress of 10% relative to the estimated intercept. Traits such as plant height, expanded leaves, as well as width and length of leaves also showed a significant increase. Given the genotype by environment interaction, the estimated marginal progress of the four sites was not a good predictor of the progress at each site. On the other hand, the leaf quality index and the corresponding commercial value did not show the aimed trend due to the fact that both evaluations were performed at the final trials. The simultaneous progress increased the set of traits by 6% per era relative to the intercept. This reflects the sucess of selection and simultaneous improvement of traits. The proposed index does not require attributing economic weights, satisfies the restrictions, is effective in summarizing the genetic progress of multipletraits and can be applied considering multitrait selection through non independent culling levels.