• Preparation of a DNA sample in the laboratory
    Hybrid breeding

Hybrid breeding

Overview

In short

In hybrid breeding, two genetically different parent lines are produced.

Advantages

The offspring (hybrids) are bigger, more fruitful and more resilient than their parental lines (hybrid vigor).

Disadvantages

The heterosis effect is maintained for only one generation.

Development

1920s in the USA

Application at KWS

Breeding of corn, sugarbeets, rapeseed, rye and sunflowers.

To breed hybrid seeds, two homozygotic, but as genetically different as possible, parental lines are crossed with each other. Because of the heterosis effect, the resulting heterozygous offspring (“hybrids”) are much more productive than both parents, so higher yields result.

The hybrid vigor makes plants bigger, more fruitful and more resilient than their parental lines. However, it is maintained only for one generation. Hybrid breeding is used worldwide for many crops.

In the case of corn or sugarbeets, many countries almost exclusively grow hybrid varieties. At the same time, hybrid breeding is very complex. Self-fertilization, for instance, must often be prevented. In addition, two parent lines must be bred per hybrid.

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