On the design of early generation variety trials with correlated data

This article considers the design of early generation variety trials with a prespecified spatial correlation structure and introduces a new class of partially replicated designs called p-rep designs in which the plots of standard varieties are replaced by additional plots of test lines. We show how efficient p-rep designs can be readily generated using the modified Reactive TABU search algorithm. The expected and realized genetic gain of p-rep and grid plot designs is compared in a simulation study.