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Performance of Diallel Crosses and Second Generation Synthetics of Alfalfa Derived from Partly Inbred Parents. I. Forage Yield¹

In an alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) breeding study conducted under conditions of high competition between plants, combining ability [or forage yield was evaluated from diallel crosses among selected parents which had been partly inbred by selfing. The performance of first and second generation synthetics was studied as well. General combining ability (GCA) variance was considerably larger than specific combining ability (SCA) variance for all generations of parental inbreeding (S₀, S₁, S₂, S₃, and S₄). In general both GCA and SCA increased with inbreeding. The best single crosses came from selected inbred parents. Selling and subsequent selection improved the genetic value of the parents and resulted in improved synthetic varieties. Breeding synthetic varieties based on four selected S₂. plants might well be an efficient method to improve yield of alfalfa.

Key Words: Autotetraploid • Competition • Inbreeding • Medicago sativa L. • Selection

² Director of plant breeding section, Istituto Sperimentale per le Colture Foraggere, Lodi (Italy).

Received for publication June 12, 1975.