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Optimizing purebred selection for crossbred performance using QTL with different degrees of dominance

Abstract

A method was developed to optimize simultaneous selection for a quantitative trait with a known QTL within a male and a female line to maximize crossbred performance from a two-way cross. Strategies to maximize cumulative discounted response in crossbred performance over ten generations were derived by optimizing weights in an index of a QTL and phenotype. Strategies were compared to selection on purebred phenotype. Extra responses were limited for QTL with additive and partial dominance effects, but substantial for QTL with over-dominance, for which optimal QTL selection resulted in differential selection in male and female lines to increase the frequency of heterozygotes and polygenic responses. For over-dominant QTL, maximization of crossbred performance one generation at a time resulted in similar responses as optimization across all generations and simultaneous optimal selection in a male and female line resulted in greater response than optimal selection within a single line without crossbreeding. Results show that strategic use of information on over-dominant QTL can enhance crossbred performance without crossbred testing.

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Correspondence to Jack CM Dekkers.

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Dekkers, J.C., Chakraborty, R. Optimizing purebred selection for crossbred performance using QTL with different degrees of dominance. Genet Sel Evol 36, 297 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1186/1297-9686-36-3-297

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1297-9686-36-3-297

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