Estimates were obtained of the means, variances, and heritabilities of 10 commercially important traits from approx 200 parents and their more than 2,000 offspring observed over a period of 8 years. After adjustment of measurements for the effects of yearly variations in climate, heritabilities were found to be very high for ripe date; high for bloom date, amount of bloom, fruit length, suture, and cheek; modest for fruit firmness and acidity; and low for percent soluble solids and crop. The implications of these results on the design and execution of breeding programs in such crops are discussed.
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Hansche et al. (1972) studied this question.