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A Diallel Selective Mating System for Cereal Breeding¹

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.

Key Words: Breeding systems • Diallel crossing • Gene pool • Germplasm use • Linkage • Mass selection • Self-pollinated crops

² Professor of Plant Breeding, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850.

Received for publication February 27, 1970.