title: Measurements of experimental precision for trials with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) genotypes.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of statistics as experimental precision degree measures for trials with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) genotypes. Cowpea genotype yields were evaluated in 29 trials conducted in Brazil between 2005 and 2012. The genotypes were evaluated with a randomized block design with four replications. Ten statistics that were estimated for each trial were compared using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and path analysis. According to the class limits established, selective accuracy and F-test values for genotype, heritability, and the coefficient of determination adequately estimated the degree of experimental precision. Using these statistics, 86.21% of the trials had adequate experimental precision. Selective accuracy and the F-test values for genotype, heritability, and the coefficient of determination were directly related to each other, and were more suitable than the coefficient of variation and the least significant difference (by the Tukey test) to evaluate experimental precision in trials with cowpea genotypes.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Teodoro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fitotecnia, Universidade Estadual do Mato Grosso do Sul, Aquidauana, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fitotecnia, Universidade Estadual do Mato Grosso do Sul, Aquidauana, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: L M A
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Barroso
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste, Dourados, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ceccon
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D000070658:Vigna / Q000235:genetics*