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Performance of Diallel Crosses and Second Generation Synthetics of Alfalfa Derived from Partly Inbred Parents. I. Forage Yield 1
Author(s) -
Rotili P.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1976.0011183x001600020021x
Subject(s) - diallel cross , biology , inbreeding , selfing , forage , inbred strain , inbreeding depression , agronomy , selection (genetic algorithm) , yield (engineering) , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , hybrid , population , gene , demography , materials science , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , metallurgy
In an alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) breeding study conducted under conditions of high competition between plants, combining ability [or forage yield was evaluated from diallel crosses among selected parents which had been partly inbred by selfing. The performance of first and second generation synthetics was studied as well. General combining ability (GCA) variance was considerably larger than specific combining ability (SCA) variance for all generations of parental inbreeding (S 0 , S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , and S 4 ). In general both GCA and SCA increased with inbreeding. The best single crosses came from selected inbred parents. Selling and subsequent selection improved the genetic value of the parents and resulted in improved synthetic varieties. Breeding synthetic varieties based on four selected S 2 . plants might well be an efficient method to improve yield of alfalfa.