Efficiency of linear selection index in predicting rice hybrid performance

Selection index (SI) theory has been applied to predict the net genetic merit, select parents for the next cycle, and maximize the selection response in plant breeding. However, up to now, SI has not been applied to predict unobserved hybrid performance. In hybrid breeding, it is impossible to test every cross, and accurate prediction can help breeders greatly reduce the experimental cost. Traditional genomic selection (GS) targets single-trait...