Are hybrid varieties justified?

Authors
Citation
A. Gallais, Are hybrid varieties justified?, OCL-OL CORP, 7(1), 2000, pp. 5-10
Citations number
8
Categorie Soggetti
Food Science/Nutrition
Journal title
OCL-OLEAGINEUX CORPS GRAS LIPIDES
ISSN journal
12588210 → ACNP
Volume
7
Issue
1
Year of publication
2000
Pages
5 - 10
Database
ISI
SICI code
1258-8210(200001/02)7:1<5:AHVJ>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
In a cross-fertilized species, like maize, where there is an hybrid vigour, this paper discuss the justification of hybrids in comparison to lines and populations according to genetic effects. It is underlined that, even when at one locus there is no overdominance, i.e., no superiority of the hetero zygous as compared to the best homozygous, hybrids lead to the greater gene tic advance at short term. It is only at long term that the difference betw een hybrids, populations and lines can be reduced. Such an advantage is due to the fact that hybrids allow the immediate accumulation in one genotype of the favourable dominant genes dispersed in two complementary parents. Fu rthermore, overdominance or pseudo-overdominance, i.e., the simulation of o verdominance due to tight linkage of genes in repulsion, cannot be excluded . Economical aspects are briefly discussed.