Relative efficiency of the genotypic value and combining ability effects on reciprocal recurrent selection

• Published in: Theoretical and applied genetics Vol. 126; no. 4; pp. 889 - 899
• Main Authors: Viana, José Marcelo Soriano, DeLima, Rodrigo Oliveira, Mundim, Gabriel Borges, Condé, Aurinelza Batista Teixeira, Vilarinho, Aloisio Alcantara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.04.2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Breeding - methods; Computer Simulation; Corn; Gene Frequency; genes; Genes, Plant - genetics; Genetic aspects; Genetic recombination; genetic variation; Genetics, Population; Genotype; heterosis; hybrids; inbreeding depression; Life Sciences; Models, Genetic; Original Paper; parents; Physiological aspects; Plant Biochemistry; Plant breeding; Plant Breeding/Biotechnology; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Polymorphism; recurrent selection; Selection, Genetic; Zea mays; Zea mays - genetics; Brazil; Gene Frequency Difference; Population Cross; General Combine Ability; Inbreeding Depression; General Combine Ability Effect
• ISSN: 0040-5752; 1432-2242
• DOI: 10.1007/s00122-012-2023-3

Reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS) has been successfully applied to maize breeding for more than 60 years. Our objective was to assess the relative efficiency of the genotypic value and the effects of general and specific combining abilities (GCA and SCA) on selection. The GCA effect reflects the number of favorable genes in the parent. The SCA effect primarily reflects the differences in the gene frequencies between the parents. We simulated three traits, three classes of populations, and 10 cycles of half- and full-sib RRS. The RRS is a highly efficient process for intra- and interpopulation breeding, regardless of the trait or the level of divergence among the populations. The RRS increases the heterosis of the interpopulation cross when there is dominance, and it decreases the inbreeding depression in the populations and the genetic variability in the populations and in the hybrid. When there is not dominance and the populations are not divergent, the RRS also determines population differentiation. The half-sib RRS, which is equivalent to selection based on the GCA effect, is more efficient than the full-sib RRS based on the genotypic value, regardless of the trait or the level of improvement of the populations. The full-sib RRS based on the SCA effect is not efficient for intra- and interpopulation breeding.