UNIT – 4

Hybridization, Heterosis and

Inbreeding Depression

Prepared by:
Gaurab Neupane
Agriculture Instructor
Rapti Technical School, Dang
  The production of hybrids from the crossing of two
parents or lines of dissimilar genotypes is known as
hybridization.

Hybridization  It produces new combinations of genes and helps in

crop improvement.
  To increase genetic variability: The crossing of
two genetically different plants produces new
gene recombinations in later generations.
Objectives
Of hybridization  Combination breeding: It is the transfer of one or
a few oligogenic or polygenic desirable characters
into a single variety.
  Transgressive breeding: It refers to the production of
plants in the F2 generation that is superior to both

Objectives parents for one or more characteristics.

Of
hybridization  To exploit hybrid vigour (heterosis) and use hybrid
varieties.
 A) Intra-varietal hybridization: It refers to the
crossing between plants of a same variety.

B) Inter-varietal or Intraspecific hybridization: It

Types OF refers to the crossing between plants of two different
Hybridization varieties of the same species.

C) Distant hybridization: It is the crossing between

different species or different genera. It can be
 I) Interspecific or Intra-generic hybridization: It refers
to the crossing between plants of different species of the
same genus.

II) Intergeneric hybridization: It refers to the crossing

Distant between plants of different genera.

III) Introgressive hybridization: It is the transfer of a

Hybridization gene from one species to another by repeated
backcrossing of an interspecific hybrid with one of its
parent species.
What are the consequences of hybridization?
 Hybridization involves the following steps:

 Selection of parents

 Evaluation of parents

 Emasculation
Procedure  Bagging

/(method)  Tagging

Of hybridization  Pollination

 Harvesting and storing of F1 seeds

 Raising and handling the F1, F2 and later generations.

  The selection of parents mainly depends upon the
objectives of the breeding programme.

 An increase in yield is always an objective of the breeder.

Selection of So, at least one of the parents involved in a cross should
parents be well-adapted and established variety in the area
(normally female).

 The other parent should be having the desirable character

that we want to transfer.
  The parents are evaluated to know their performance
in the area.
Evaluation of
parents  The selected plants are evaluated on the basis of the
desired characteristics like yield, disease, pest and
stress resistance etc.
  It is the process of the removal of stamens or anthers or
the killing of pollen grains of a flower without affecting
the female reproductive parts.

 It is done to prevent self-fertilization in the flowers of the

Emasculatio female parent.
n  It can be done by different methods; hand emasculation,
hot water treatment, cold water treatment, alcohol
treatment, suction method, male sterility and self-
incompatibility and chemical emasculation.
 1. Hand emasculation/Forceps/Scissor Method:

 It is used in those plants with large flowers.

 The Corolla of the selected flowers is opened and

anthers are carefully removed with fine-tip forceps.
Types/
methods of
2. Hot water treatment:
Emasculation
 Emasculation can be done by dipping the flowers in
hot water for about 1 – 10 minutes.

 for eg: Small flowers (Bajra)

 3. Cold water treatment:

 Cold water kills pollen grains without damaging

gynoecium.

 eg: Rice (0 – 6℃ temperature)

Types/
4. Alcohol treatment method:
methods of
 Immersing flowers in alcohol of suitable concentration
Emasculation
results in emasculation.

 eg: Alfa-alfa: 57% alcohol for 10 seconds

 5. Suction method:

 A small amount of pressure is applied in such a way

that only anthers are sucked out and other parts of the
flower remain intact.
Types/
6. Male sterility and self-incompatibility:
methods of  MS and SI eliminate the necessity of emasculation.
Emasculation
7. Chemical emasculation:

 Chemicals like sodium methyl acetate, ethephon, GA 3,

hybrex etc. induce artificial male sterility.
  Immediately after emasculation, the emasculated flower is
bagged to avoid random cross-pollination.
Bagging  The bags may be made up of paper, butter paper, glassine,
fine cloth etc.

 The bags are removed usually 2 – 3 days after pollination

after the danger of cross-pollination is over.
  The pollen grains from the desired parent are collected and
Pollinatio transferred to the stigma of the desired female plant.
n/Crossing  It is preferably done in the morning hours.
  The flowers are tagged just after bagging.

 Tags are attached to the base of the flower with the help
thread.
Tagging/  The following information is recorded on the tag.
Labelling i. Date of emasculation
ii. Date of pollination/crossing
iii. Details of the cross (names of female and male
parents) A×B
iv. Name of the breeder etc.
Harvesting  The seeds are harvested, threshed, dried and stored.

and storing  Care should be taken that there is no mixing of hybrid

seeds with other seeds.
the f1 seeds
Raising the F1  In the coming seasons, the stored seeds are sown

generation separately to raise the F1 generation.

  The superiority of the F1 hybrid over both of its parents in
terms of yield or some other character.

 It results in an increase in size, growth rate, productivity,

Heterosis vigour, productivity, or some other characteristics.
 1. Average Heterosis

 The hybrid is superior to the mid-parents (average of two

Types of parents).

 It is also known as mid-parent heterosis.

heterosis Average Heterosis = (F1 - MP)/MP × 100%,

where MP is the average of two parents

 2. Economic Heterosis

 The hybrid is superior to the best commercial or standard check

variety.
Types of  It is also known as standard or useful heterosis.

heterosi  Economic Heterosis = (F1 – Check)/Check × 100%

 It has commercial or practical value and is mostly used in

s breeding programmes.
 3. Heterobeltiosis

 The hybrid is superior to the superior parent.

 It is also known as better parent heterosis.

Types of  Heterobeltiosis = (F1 – SP)/ SP × 100% , where SP means

heterosi superior or better parent

 If the yield of the two parents is 5 and 6 tons respectively, then

s the resulting hybrid should yield greater than 6 tons.
1) The yield of the F1 hybrid resulting from the cross of
parents A and B was 10 tons. The yield of A and B were
respectively 11 and 7 tons. Is there any heterosis? If yes,
determine the type of heterosis and calculate it.
2) In question no 1., if the yield of the F 1 hybrid was 12 tons,
determine the type and calculate the heterosis.
3) The yield of the parents C and D were 6 and 8 tons
respectively. The yield of the best commercial variety was
10 tons and the F1 resulting from the cross of C and D
yielded 12 tons. Estimate the standard heterosis.
  Increase in size, yield, vigour and quality.

 Increase in reproductive ability

Effects of  Earlier flowering and maturity

 Increased resistance to pests and diseases

heterosis
 Greater adaptability

 Increase in the number of plant parts

Commerci  Heterosis is commercially utilized in the form of hybrid and
synthetic varieties.
al
 These varieties are commonly produced in cross-pollinated
utilization and partially cross-pollinated crops but attempts have been
made in self-pollinated crops.
of

Heterosis
  Inbreeding refers to the mating or crossing of individuals
related by descent or ancestry.

 The highest degree of inbreeding is obtained by selfing.

Inbreedin  ID is defined as the reduction or loss in vigour and fertility
due to inbreeding.
g
 The degree of inbreeding depression depends on the plant
depressio species.

 ID = (F1 – F2)/ F1 × 100

n
  The appearance of lethal and sub-lethal alleles: leads to death,
reduction in survival and reproduction rate

Effects  Reduction in vigour: dwarf and shorter plants

 Reduction in reproduction ability: Low seed set, sterility

Of  Increase in homozygosity

Separation of the population into distinct lines: AA and aa

inbreedin 

lines
g  Reduction in yield
 1. High Inbreeding Depression :

Degree  Severe depression and a large proportion of plants show

lethal effects. Vigour, fertility and yield are significantly

Of reduced (More than 25% yield loss in open pollinated

varieties)
inbreeding  Ex: Carrot, alfalfa, Lucerne etc.

2. Moderate Inbreeding Depression:

depression
 The appearance of lethal and sub-lethal types but lines can
be separated and maintained
 3. Low Inbreeding Depression
Degree  A small depression is observed and loss in vigour and yield is
small
Of
 Ex: Cucurbits, Sunflower, Onion etc.

inbreeding 4. No Inbreeding Depression

 Self-pollinated species do not show inbreeding depression.

depression
 Genetic  Heterosis and ID are closely related phenomena.

 Genetic theories that explain heterosis also explain ID.

basis of
 There are 3 major theories to explain heterosis and
heterosis Inbreeding Depression

and 1. Dominance Hypothesis

2. Over dominance Hypothesis

inbreeding
3. Epistasis Hypothesis
depression
  Proposed by Davenport in 1908

 At each locus, the dominant allele has a favourable effect

Dominan while the recessive allele has an unfavourable effect

t  Heterosis results from the masking of harmful effects of

recessive alleles by dominant alleles
hypothesi  ID results form the homozygosity of the deleterious recessive
alleles.
s
  Proposed by East and Shull in 1908

 Heterozygotes are superior to both the homozygotes

Over
ex: Aa is superior to both AA and aa
dominance  Thus, heterozygosity is essential for and is the cause of
heterosis
hypothesis
 Homozygosity resulting from inbreeding produces
inbreeding depression
  Epistasis means interaction between two different genes i.e.

expression of one gene is affected by another

Epistasis
 Epistasis with dominant effects may contribute to heterosis
hypothesi
 It has been observed in maize and cotton
s
  Heterosis results from a larger embryo and endosperm
Physiologic  The rate of seedling growth is greater in hybrids than in
inbred lines
al basis of
 Hybrid embryos are able to mobilize stored food
heterosis materials earlier than those of the inbreds due to an
efficient enzyme system.
 HETEROSIS INBREEDING
DEPRESSION
1. It results from mating 1. It results from mating
between unrelated individuals. between closely related
Heterosis individuals.

Vs 2. It leads to increase in 2. It causes decline in vigour,

vigour and yield with fertility and yield with
increased heterozygosity. increased homozygosity.
Inbreeding
3. The unfavourable genes are 3. It occurs due to the
depression covered by favourable accumulation of unfavourable
dominant genes. recessive genes.
PRACTICAL NO:

CALCULATE HETEROSIS AND INBREEDING DEPRESSION

OBJECTIVES:

1) To study about heterosis, inbreeding depression and their types

2) To calculate heterosis and inbreeding depression

THEORY:

Heterosis, Types,

Inbreeding depression, Types/Degree

CALCULATIONS:

Solve question numbers i. ii. and iii. in the previous slide

iv. The panicle length of the F1 hybrid produced by the cross of A and B was 18 cm.

The average panicle length of F2 produced by selfing of F1 was 12cm. Calculate the
inbreeding depression.

CONCLUSIONS
THANK YOU