ASSIGNMENT ON

HETEROSIS BREEDING
FBT-501

BY

SWASTIDEEP GOUDA

241721401

SUBMITTED TO:

DR. T.L. MOHANTY

ASST. PROFESSOR

DEPT. OF FOREST BIOLOGY AND TREE IMPROVEMENT

ODISHA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

BHUBANESWAR-751003

SUBMITTED BY:

DEPT. OF FOREST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

SWASTIDEEP GOUDA

ADMISSION NO.-241721401

MSc 1ST Year SEMESTER-1

COLLEGE OF FORESTRY,

BHUBANESWAR-75100
 Heterosis
Definition: Heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor, is the phenomenon wherein hybrid
offspring exhibit superior qualities or enhanced performance compared to their parental
lines. This can manifest as increased yield, greater resistance to diseases, improved
adaptability to environmental stresses, enhanced fertility, and overall better vigor.

Types of Heterosis

1. True Heterosis (Genetic Heterosis): This form of heterosis is attributed to the

genetic superiority of hybrids over both parents. It involves the interaction of
favorable genes from both parents that combine to produce a more robust and vigorous
hybrid. True heterosis is commonly observed in traits such as growth rate, yield, and
stress resistance.
2. Pseudo-Heterosis (Environmental Heterosis): In this type, the observed superiority
of hybrids is not due to genetic factors but rather environmental conditions. For
example, better nutrition, favorable growing conditions, or optimized management
practices can lead to enhanced performance in hybrids. While pseudo-heterosis may
result in temporary improvements, it is not genetically heritable.

Theories of Heterosis

Several theories have been proposed to explain the genetic basis of heterosis:

1. Dominance Hypothesis: This theory suggests that heterosis arises due to the masking
of deleterious recessive alleles by dominant alleles in the hybrid. Inbred lines often
accumulate harmful recessive alleles, leading to reduced vigor. When these inbred
lines are crossed, the dominant alleles from each parent mask the effects of the
deleterious recessive alleles, resulting in improved performance in the hybrid.
2. Overdominance Hypothesis: According to this theory, heterozygosity at certain loci
is inherently superior to either homozygous condition. This means that the hybrid
exhibits a higher fitness level because the heterozygous genotype at these loci confers
an advantage. The overdominance hypothesis suggests that some genes have a greater
positive impact when present in a heterozygous state.
3. Epistasis Hypothesis: The epistasis hypothesis emphasizes the importance of
interactions between genes at different loci. It posits that favorable interactions
between non-allelic genes in hybrids lead to enhanced performance. These epistatic
interactions can create new combinations of genes that result in improved traits,
contributing to heterosis.
4. Balanced Lethals Hypothesis: This theory suggests that inbred lines carry lethal
alleles in a heterozygous condition, and crossing these lines results in the masking or
balancing of these lethal alleles. The result is the expression of advantageous traits and
the elimination of harmful alleles, leading to increased hybrid vigor.

Fixation of Heterosis

The fixation of heterosis involves making the beneficial traits of hybrid vigor stable and
heritable in subsequent generations. Several breeding methods can achieve this:
 1. Backcrossing: This method involves repeatedly crossing the hybrid with one of the
parental lines to integrate the desired trait into a stable genetic background. The goal is
to combine the hybrid's advantageous traits with the desirable traits of the parent.
2. Double Cross: In this approach, two F1 hybrids are crossed to create a new hybrid
variety. This can stabilize certain heterotic traits and produce a hybrid that combines
the strengths of multiple parental lines.
3. Synthetic Varieties: Synthetic varieties are developed by intercrossing a set of
selected lines or populations that exhibit hybrid vigor. These intercrossed populations
are then allowed to stabilize, resulting in a new variety with improved traits.
4. Recurrent Selection: This breeding method involves selecting the best-performing
individuals from a population and interbreeding them over multiple generations.
Recurrent selection gradually enhances the desired traits, making them more stable
and heritable.

Estimation of Heterosis

To quantify the extent of heterosis, various statistical methods are employed:

1. Mid-parent Heterosis (MPH): This is calculated as the percentage increase of the F1

hybrid's performance over the average performance of the two parents. The formula is:

MPH=(F1−MP)/MP×100

Where F1 is the performance of the hybrid, and MP is the mean performance of the parents.

2. Better-parent Heterosis (BPH): This measure calculates the percentage increase of

the F1 hybrid's performance over the better-performing parent. The formula is:

BPH=(F1−BP)/BP×100

Where BP is the performance of the better parent.

3. Standard Heterosis: This method compares the performance of the F1 hybrid against
a standard or commercial variety instead of the parents. The formula is:

Standard Heterosis=(F1−SV)/SV×100

Where SV is the performance of the standard variety.

Inbreeding Depression

Definition: Inbreeding depression refers to the reduced biological fitness observed in a

population or species due to inbreeding, which involves the breeding of related individuals.
It often results in a decrease in traits such as fertility, viability, and overall vigor.

Causes of Inbreeding Depression

 1. Increased Homozygosity: Inbreeding increases the proportion of homozygous
individuals in a population. This leads to the expression of deleterious recessive
alleles, which can negatively impact fitness.
2. Loss of Heterozygosity: Inbreeding reduces the genetic diversity and heterozygosity
within a population. This loss of genetic diversity can reduce the population's ability to
adapt to environmental changes and increase susceptibility to diseases.
3. Genetic Drift: In small populations, genetic drift can lead to random changes in allele
frequencies. This can result in the fixation of harmful alleles and further contribute to
inbreeding depression.

Estimation of Inbreeding Depression

The estimation of inbreeding depression is crucial for understanding its impact on a

population. It can be measured using the following methods:

1. Inbreeding Coefficient (F): This coefficient measures the probability that two alleles
at any locus are identical by descent. It ranges from 0 (no inbreeding) to 1 (complete
inbreeding). Higher inbreeding coefficients indicate greater levels of inbreeding.
2. Relative Fitness: This method compares the fitness of inbred individuals to non-
inbred individuals. The formula for estimating inbreeding depression based on relative
fitness is:

Inbreeding Depression=(1−Fitness of Inbred)/Fitness of Non-Inbred×100

3. Regression Analysis: This statistical method analyzes the relationship between the
degree of inbreeding (measured by the inbreeding coefficient) and the observed fitness
traits. Regression analysis can help quantify the impact of inbreeding on specific traits.
4. Genetic Marker Analysis: Molecular markers such as microsatellites and single
nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can be used to assess the genetic diversity and
inbreeding levels in a population. By analyzing genetic markers, researchers can
identify regions of the genome associated with inbreeding depression.

Mitigation of Inbreeding Depression

Several strategies can be employed to mitigate inbreeding depression and maintain the health
and vigor of a population:

1. Outcrossing: Introducing unrelated individuals into the breeding population can

increase genetic diversity and reduce the effects of inbreeding depression. Outcrossing
can introduce new alleles and reduce the frequency of deleterious recessive alleles.
2. Rotational Breeding: This strategy involves rotating breeding males among different
groups of females to minimize relatedness. Rotational breeding helps maintain genetic
diversity and reduces the risk of inbreeding depression.
3. Maintaining Effective Population Size: Ensuring a sufficient number of breeding
individuals is crucial for maintaining genetic diversity. A larger effective population
size reduces the impact of genetic drift and helps preserve genetic variation.
 4. Genetic Rescue: Genetic rescue involves introducing individuals from other
populations to boost genetic diversity and reduce inbreeding depression. This strategy
can increase fitness and adaptability by introducing new genetic material.

Conclusion

Heterosis and inbreeding depression are two critical concepts in genetics and breeding.
Understanding the genetic basis of these phenomena and employing appropriate strategies to
harness heterosis and mitigate inbreeding depression can lead to improved crop and livestock
performance. The study of heterosis continues to evolve with advancements in genetic
research, offering new insights and potential applications in various fields of agriculture and
biology.

This comprehensive lecture note provides an in-depth overview of heterosis, including its
definition, types, theories, fixation, and estimation, along with the related concept of
inbreeding depression. It serves as a valuable resource for students and researchers in the
field of genetics and breeding.

THANK YOU