The Fallacy Behind the Use of a Modified Line × Tester Design

Abstract

The genetic models governing a line × tester design and a modified design in which the parents are included are examined in detail. The errors involved in the procedure of analysis followed by breeders are highlighted with a practical example. The need to scrutinise plant to plant variation and to modify the analysis on single plant basis is stressed. Least squares estimates of the components of combining ability variances are derived and their superiority Over the conventional estimates brought out