A comparison of inbred line and F-1 testers for evaluating sorghum experimental lines in testcrosses
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abstract
Selecting an effective tester for evaluating the hybrid performance and heterosis of new inbred lines is crucial to ensure their accurate evaluation. Most sorghum breeding programs use at least two elite inbred line testers when evaluating new inbred lines. These testcrosses provide valuable information, but the specificity of inbred line testers may incorrectly characterize experimental lines that would combine well with other genetic backgrounds. Reducing this risk by increasing the number of preliminary testcrosses is limited in breeding programs by resource availability. Efficiently diversifying testcrosses may be accomplished through the use of F1 testers. Testcrosses made with F1 testers simultaneously evaluate inbred lines against two genetic backgrounds. In preliminary testcrosses, this may reduce the probability of incorrectly discarding new lines or improve the efficiency of preliminary testcrossing. The objective of this research was to compare two sorghum inbred line testers to their respective F1 as a tester for evaluating sorghum inbred lines (R-lines) in testcrosses for grain yield. The testers used were A.Tx623, A.Tx2752 and their F1 hybrid, A.Tx623/B.Tx2752. Data from testcross hybrids from 33 different inbred lines grown in three environments indicated that the F1 tester was comparable in accuracy and discriminatory efficiency to the inbred line testers. The results indicated that a single cross tester in sorghum can serve to effectively evaluate new germplasm. 2011 Elsevier B.V.
