Three‐Way and Four‐Way Recurrent Selection in Plant Breeding

AbstractThree or four‐way recurrent selection is proposed for the development of three or four‐way crosses. In term of genetic effects, it could be justified if there are interactions between more than three genes, whether alleles or not, if autopolyploids are also considered. For autotetraploids, in particular with tetragenic interaction, four‐way recurrent selection could be more effective than reciprocal recurrent selection (two‐way selection). According to the types of progenies used to develop the tests, different selection procedures are considered, the two extremes being called method 1 and method 3. With method 1 (selection for three or four‐way general combining ability) a plant from a population is used to produce three‐way or four‐way progenies with the other populations used as testers. With method 3 (selection for three or four‐way specific combining ability) three‐way or four‐way crosses are developed with one plant from each population. To study the genetic advance, the theory is developed to consider either diploidy or autotetraploidy. It is shown that method 3 will allow a greater genetic advance than method 1 for low heritability and low selection intensity. The way towards hybrid development with three and four‐way pedigree selection is discussed: again selection can be for general or specific three or four‐way combining ability. It is emphasized that an advantage of recurrent selection for three or four‐way specific combining ability is that it allows direct varietal development with pedigree selection on three or four‐way specific combining ability. Some other practical aspects are also considered.