To evaluate the efficiency of early selection, the following methodologies were used: estimates of genetic parameters, individual heritability in the narrow sense ([h.sup.2.sub.a]%), selection gain in percentage GS (%), annual average selection gain in percentage ([GS.sub.annual average]), accuracy ([r.sub.[??]a]) and coincidence index.
Estimates of individual heritability in the narrow sense were obtained by dividing additive genetic variance by phenotypic variance, of which the results are interpreted as heritability of high magnitude ([h.sup.2.sub.a] [greater than or equal to] 0.50), heritability of average magnitude (0.15 [less than or equal to] [ha.sup.2.sub.a] < 0.50) and heritability of low magnitude ([h.sup.2.sub.a] < 0.15) (Resende, 2002).
Table 2 shows that individual heritability in the narrow sense had an average magnitude for the production characteristics and the number of fruits in the two cropping periods.
