Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the sample size (i.e., number of plants) required to estimate the mean and median of canola (Brassica napus L.) traits of the Hyola 61, Hyola 76, and Hyola 433 hybrids with precision levels. At 124 days after sowing, 225 plants of each hybrid were randomly collected. In each plant, morphological (plant height) and productive traits (number of siliques, fresh matter of siliques, fresh matter of aerial part without siliques, fresh matter of aerial part, dry matter of siliques, dry matter of aerial part without siliques, and dry matter of aerial part) were measured. For each trait, measures of central tendency, variability, skewness, and kurtosis were calculated. Sample size was determined by resampling with replacement of 10,000 resamples. The sample size required for the estimation of measures of central tendency (mean and median) varies between traits and hybrids. Productive traits required larger sample sizes in relation to the morphological traits. Larger sample sizes are required for the hybrids Hyola 433, Hyola 61, and Hyola 76, in this sequence. In order to estimate the mean of canola traits of the Hyola 61, Hyola 76 e Hyola 433 hybrids with the amplitude of the confidence interval of 95% equal to 30% of the estimated mean, 208 plants are required. Whereas 661 plants are necessary to estimate the median with the same precision.

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