Genetical Consequences of Single Seed Descent in the Breeding of Self-Pollinating Crops

Abstract

The theoretical changes in the mean and variance of a segregating population under single seed descent, a method of rapid generation advancement in self-pollinating crops, are discussed. The direction and magnitude of these changes are shown to depend on the genetical architecture of the character under consideration. Examples, using computer simulation, show that for situations where heter- osis is exhibited, few homozygous lines will be produced which exceed the mean of the F2 distribution from which they were derived. The advantages of the method over the normal pedigree breeding method are discussed. © 1975 The Genetical Society of Great Britain.