V. Cravero et al. 90 Genetics and Molecular Research 1 (1): 90-95 (2002) www.funpecrp.com.br Estimates of heritability in a blanched asparagus population Genetics and Molecular Research 1 (1): 90-95 (2002) FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br ABSTRACT. To estimate the heritability values of characters fre- quently used as selective criteria, 32 half-sib families obtained from selected plants of three populations of the asparagus variety Argenteüil were evaluated in a randomized complete block design. The following characters were measured: days to emergence of the first spear, number and diameter of spears, number of stalks, plant height and average weight. The values of realized heritability were estimated and were compared with those obtained by the parent-offspring regression method. Pheno- typic correlation coefficients between the different variables were sig- nificant. The values of realized heritability for most of the variables were moderate to high (between 0.18 and 0.68), except for days to emer- gence; lower values were obtained by the regression method. As there was a high degree of heritability, additive genetic factors contributed significantly to the genetic variance, which would allow the selection of phenotypically superior plants for asparagus improvement projects. Key words: Asparagus officinalis L., Heritability, Selective criteria, Parent-offspring regression method Vanina Cravero, Enrique Cointry, Ileana Gatti and Fernando López Anido Cátedra de Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CC 14 Zavalla (2123), Santa Fe, Argentina Corresponding author: V. Cravero E-mail: vcravero@fcagr.unr.edu.ar Genet. Mol. Res. 1 (1): 90-95 (2002) Received March 15, 2002 Published March 28, 2002