The application of the diallel cross to outbreeding crop species

Summary The use of the diallel cross as an aid in the breeding of outbreeding crop species is considered from two aspects. Firstly, for the strategic survey of populations as the initial material of a breeding programme and secondly for the tactical assessment of the genetic relationships of elite selected genotypes. Comparisons with alternative procedures indicate that the diallel crossing scheme is generally only applicable where dominance and gene interaction are likely to be of importance.Text of a paper presented to the Study Circle for Plant Breeding, Wageningen 1977.