Effects of the Mode of Reproduction on the Genetic Variance

This book focusses on the mean genotypic value as well as on the genetic variance. Breeders seek desired changes of the mean genotypic value. Presence of genetic variance is a prerequisite for success if the change is pursued by selection. The magnitude of the genetic variance, a measure for the diversity of the genotypic values of the candidates, depends on the genotypic composition of the population subjected to selection. At given allele frequencies, the coeffi- cient of inbreeding is decisive for the genotypic composition. The effect of the mode of reproduction, the major factor determining the coefficient of inbreeding, on the genetic variance is therefore considered for both random mating and inbreeding.