The continuous gains in cycles of recurrent selection have raised disagreement among researchers. Two hundred and forty-two full-sib families were obtained from CIMMYT and Piranão populations and evaluated in a simple lattice design in two environments to estimate the response to selection in the 11th cycle of the UENF reciprocal recurrent selection program. No genotype x environment interaction was observed for most of the traits evaluated, indicating that a single recurrent selection program can be conducted for both sites. The population studied exhibited wide genotypic variability and heritability estimates ranged from 33 to 73%, indicating prospects of selection gain for the following cycles. The predicted genetic gain in yield was 12.90%. It is possible to conclude that the populations studied may be promising for the achievement of new selection cycles, which provides a continuous concentration of favorable alleles and the production of hybrids for the North and Northwest regions of the state of Rio de Janeiro.
genetic gains; selection index; interpopulation hybrids; longevity of recurrent selection
