Backcross

• Same form whether self- or cross-pollinated species
• Only difference is pollination control
• With backcross we approach homozygosity at the same rate as with selfing
• Goal is to move 1 to a few traits from a donor parent (deficient in other traits) to a recurrent parent (deficient in the trait of interest)

• Limited use of BC to create a population for selection that fosters wider genetic variance and modest introgression is a separate issue than a repeated BC to derive a new cultivar
• Jensen suggested that a 3-way (a backcross to another recurrent or superior parent following the single cross of a desirable and an undesirable parent) was superior to single cross followed by pedigree or other selection methodology
• BC must be used with other, more exploratory procedures; otherwise Gs=0
• Must have a suitable recurrent parent of BCs to make? usually 4