Genetics of nitrate content of lettuce, 1: Analysis of generation means

Summary The genetics of nitrate content in butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was studied using the mean values of five parental genotypes and several generations obtained from crosses between them. One high nitrate parental genotype was chosen and four low nitrate ones. A diallel analysis showed additive genetic effects to be the major source of variation in generation means. Estimates of additive genetic effects differed significantly between experiments, indicating genotype x experiment interactions. Effects of dominance were relatively small. The size and direction of dominance varied between experiments. Reciprocal differences were of very limited size and also varied between experiments. The inheritance of nitrate content in lettuce fitted the additive-dominance genetic model.