A Diallel Selective Mating System for Cereal Breeding¹

Abstract

The author proposes a set of diallel selective mating procedures to serve as a supplement to conventional breeding systems for autogamous crops. The system uses multiple parent input into a central gene pool (population) which, through selective mating of individuals is advanced through successive generations. Mass and recurrent selection procedures are employed throughout on both the plant and seed portions of each plant generation. The system is designed to shift the attention of breeders from the present operating concept of employing germplasm sources discretely and sequentially in the formation of numerous populations. In contrast, the diallel and selective mating aspects of the new system force the simultaneous insertion of multiple genotypes into a few central populations.The diallel selective mating system involves a planning phase and an implementation phase. The latter has four stages: a basic parent series of crosses (1) which set up the F1. diallel series of crosses (2) which when composited form P2; spaced P2 and subsequent P3, etc. provide the populations within which selective mating (3) is practiced on mass and recurrent selection principles. The final stage (4) is standard line selection from the various F5 composite populations.Implementation of the concept of the broad working gene pool leads to a continuing state of open options and provides the opportunity and time for alternative solutions to difficult breeding problems. Specifically, the proposed arrangements provide for broad use of germplasm, simultaneous input of parents, creation of persistent gene pools, breaking of linkage blocks, freeing of genetic variability, and general fostering of genetic recombination.

Genetic analysis of salinity tolerance in rice

“…Such gene effects can, however, be exploited by intermating the selected segregants and delaying the selection to the advanced generations. The other possibilities could be diallel selective mating system as proposed by Jensen (1970) or the recurrent selection procedures (Singh and Power, 1990).…”

Estimation of Combining Ability and Gene Action for Improvement Drought Tolerance in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Using GGE Biplot Techniques

“…RWC, ETE and WUE were shown as screening techniques for discrimination of drought tolerance genotypes in bread wheat (Eric et al, 2005;Farshadfar et al, 2011c). In fact the development of any plant breeding program is dependent upon the existence of genetic variability, the efficiency of selection and expression of heterosis in the plant population (Jensen, 1970;Malla et al, 2010). 12.33 *; ** Significant at the 0.05 and 0.01 probability levels, respectively; NS: non-significant.…”

“…Since drought tolerance caused by the accumulation of these genes (Khalil et al, 2010), thus the crossing A × B, A× E, A × F, A ×G, A × H produced the best drought tolerance hybrids. Jensen (1970) reported that the crosses involving high ×low general combiners besides expressing favorable additive effects of high parent showed complementary gene action due to interaction between favorable genes contributed by the relevant parents. …”

“…Wheat breeding programs mostly involve hybridization, evaluation and selection of desirable genotypes. In addition, the assessment of combining ability and determine gene action are elementary tools for selection of ideal genotypes (Jensen, 1970;Blum, 1985). The concept of combining ability was introduced by Sprague and Tatum (1942).…”

Estimation of Combining Ability in F1 and F2 Generations of Diallel Crosses in Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Em. Thell)

“…These crosses showing high sea effects with at least one good general combiner could produce desirable transgressive segregants in subsequent generations: Singh (1981), Singh et al, (1990), Shahid et al, (2005) and Zahid et al, (2011) also came to the same results. For better utilization of these crosses, the inter se crossing of F 1 hybrids in all possible combinations for multiple parents is put into a common gene pool, which will lead to realization of better recombinants and also help in breaking up of the genetic barriers, if present (Jensen 1970). Later, Redden and Jensen (1974) demonstrated significant gain in seed weight through mass selection with concurrent random mating and suggested that this technique could be a useful breeding procedure for wheat.…”