Abstract
Theoretical results were derived to relate the heterosis and the hybrid factor (ratio of hybrid performance to parental mean) of a complex character (seed yield) with the respective parameters of component subcharacters in a multiplicative model. A multiplication factor, which is a function of differences in the parents for subcharecters, was introduced to arrive at multiplicative relationships between the parameters in the model. Under certain assumptions, gene effects of a complex multiplicative trait can be expressed in terms of gene effects for the subcharacters. Data on seed yield and its components in two crosses between Vicia faba minor and major cultivars were used as a numerical example. Theoretical and experimental results indicate that with large complementary differences for subcharacters in the parents, it is possible to find substantial heterosis in the complex character without significant heterosis in its component traits. However, a review of results from the literature shows that multiplication effects are only of minor importance in most crops. Implications for the use of multiplication effects in the breeding of hybrid, synthetic, and line cultivars are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cavicchi S, Silvetti E (1976) Yield in tomato. I. Multiple regression between yield and yield components. Genet Agr 30:293–313
Geiger HH, Wahle G (1978) Struktur der Heterosis von Komplexmerkmalen bei Winterrogen-Einfachhybriden. Z Pflanzenzücht 80:198–210
Grafius JE (1959) Heterosis in barley. Agron J 51:551–554
Hayman BI (1960a) Heterosis and quantitative inheritance. Heredity 15:324–327
Hayman BI (1960b) The separation of epistatic from additive and dominance variation in generation means: II. Genetica 31:133–146
Immer FR (1941) Relation between yielding ability and homozygosis in barley crosses. J Am Soc Agron 33:200–206
Kittlitz E von (1986) Some observations in reciprocal crosses between Vicia faba major and Vicia faba minor. Biol Zentralbl 105:147–153
Mather K, Jinks JL (1982) Biometrical genetics, 3rd edn. Chapman and Hall, London
Schnell FW (1975) Heterozygotie und Heterogenität in der Qualitätszüchtung. Vortrag DLG-Pflanzenzüchterlehrgang, Hohenheim März 4–6
Schnell FW, Cockerham CC (1992) Multiplicative vs arbitrary gene action in heterosis. Genetics 131:461–469
Sinha SK, Khanna R (1975) Physiological, biochemical and genetic basis of heterosis. Adv Agron 27:123–174
Soden-Fraunhofen B von (1981) Beiträge der Multiplikationseffekte von Teilmerkmalen zur Heterosis in Komplexmerkmalen bei Mais. Dissertation, Universität Hohenheim
Stuber CW (1992) Biochemical and molecular markers in plant breeding. In Janick J (ed) Plant breeding reviews, vol 9. John Wiley, New York, pp 37–61
Williams W (1959) Heterosis and the genetics of complex characters. Nature 184:527–530
Williams W (1960) Heterosis and the genetics of complex characters. Heredity 15:327–328
Williams W, Gilbert N (1960) Heterosis and the inheritance of yield in the tomato. Heredity 14:133–149
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by A. R. Hallauer
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Melchinger, A.E., Singh, M., Link, W. et al. Heterosis and gene effects of multiplicative characters: theoretical relationships and experimental results from Vicia faba L.. Theoret. Appl. Genetics 88, 343–348 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223643
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223643