Combining different selection criteria into breeding strategies for short-term recurrent genomic selection

Each breeding program must find a balance between short-term genetic gain and the preservation of genetic variation. Different selection criteria, cross selection indices and cross-planning methods have been proposed in order to improve the trade-off between both goals compared to truncation selection and mating best with best. The relative advantage of each of these measures and methods may change depending on the duration of the breeding program because each has its particular strengths and weaknesses. We specifically focused on a short-term recurrent genomic selection program spanning five generations and used two datasets with 224 oat and 293 wheat lines, respectively, for a simulation study which evaluated genetic gain and genetic diversity for 19 different breeding strategies. Overall, we found that strategies that combined different selection criteria, cross selection indices, and/or cross-planning methods rather than relying on just one measure alone resulted in a higher genetic gain compared to truncation selection while maintaining at least the same amount of genetic diversity. We therefore conclude that combining different measures into breeding strategies can enhance breeding progress without any need for additional resources.