About Lesson
Single Seed Descent
- Inbreed with one seed from each plant in each generation
- Select superior line after F6
- Crosses with no high heritability traits segregating
Advantages of single seed Descent method
- Rapid generation advance; 2-4 generations/yr
- Requires less space, time and resources in early stages, therefore accommodates higher # crosses;
- Superior to bulk/mass selection if the desired genotype is at a competitive disadvantage; natural selection usually has little impact on population.
- Delayed selection eliminated confusing effects of heterozygosity; more effective than pedigree breeding when dealing with low h2 traits;
- Highly amenable to modifications and can be combined with any method of selection.
Disadvantages of single seed descent method
- May carry inferior material forward
- Fewer field evaluations, so you lose the advantage of natural selection
- Need appropriate facilities to allow controlled environment manipulation of plants for rapid seed production cycles (day length, moisture and nutrient control)