The Pedigree Method

History Practice of the pedigree method predates rediscovery of Mendel’s work Vilmorin used the pedigree method in France in the 1830’s Institute at Svalof - used pedigree type breeding in the 1880’s

Nillson Represented families by one or more plants Noted that when harvested seed came from only one plant, the progeny were much more uniform Came to call this the “system of pedigree”

Begin with the F2 generation May be space planted to provide maximum individual plant expression May be planted at the same density as the crop normally is

F2 plant selection Identify best plants, e.g. short, early, clean, vigorous Tag or spray paint plants to signify selects May tag at flowering to indicate traits that will not be readable at maturity Historical - pull or dig up whole plants at maturity to provide plenty of F2:3seed

F2 Selection To harvest (dig up) single plants or simply harvest single heads is a decision with several implications Single head harvest is much quicker and easier, but it limits the amount of seed and thus the experimental unit that is grown in the F3

F2 selection Space-planted or solid seeded - another critical decision Space planted populations allow for individual plant expression, maximum tillering (etc.), and maximum individual plant yield But if it does not mirror the way the crop is grown, how “real” is it?

Variability Issues Generation Among Within F2:3 1 0.5 F3:4 1.5 0.25 1.75 0.125 F5:6 1.875 0.0625

Selection Pressure / No. of Lines Maximize the number of F2:3 lines because the among line variation is greater than the within line variation If you do not maximize the number of distinct F2:3 families, then you will be relying on within line variation, which is of diminishing magnitude as inbreeding progresses.

Selection Pressure / No. of Lines If you have selected only 5 - 10 plants from an F2 population, then you will be relying on variation within inbred lines that trace back to those few F2 plants. The problem is that theory tells us that the within line variation will simply not be there.

Pedigree Information The keeping of pedigree information is very tedious One rationale for keeping it is to make sure that lines trace back to different F2 plants

Pedigree Information Sister lines - what are they? Pedigree information allows us to keep track of sister lines E.g. 1) KY95C - 100 - 14 -23 - 8 - 6 - 0 and 2) KY95C - 100 - 14 -25 -2 - 2 - 0 and 3)KY95C - 100 - 14 -23 - 8 - 12 - 0 1 and 2 are sisters at the F2:3 level and 1 and 3 are sisters at the F4:5 level

Characters for Selection High heritability desirable Amenable to visual selection Traits that can be evaluated in individual plants or progeny rows Number of plants grown must be adequate for number of traits evaluated Must maintain sufficient number of plants such that variability for low h2 traits like yield still remains.

Choice of Environments Assume F2 will be grown in main nursery environment (ex. Lexington) With pedigree selection, early generations will all be grown there because individual plant selection is practiced Alternative is to grow a bulk version of a generation at another location

Pros Discard inferior types early Each generation grown in different year which exposes material to different environments Genetic relatedness of lines known, so variability among lines retained can be maximized

Cons Can’t be used in environments where genetic variability for trait not expressed (off season nursery) Tremendous record keeping May need experienced person to select Land and labor intensive

Pedigree Selection Most breeders use some aspect of it Few breeders use very strict pedigree selection Too expensive and labor intensive May be most suitable for small program where quality considerations limit size and genetic variability (e.g., malting barley)

Pedigree of Compton Wheat Fulhio / Purkof /3/ Trumbull // Hope / Hussar /5/ Fairfield /4/ PI94587 /3/ Hungarian // Fultz / Hungarian /8/ LaPorte /7/ Minhardi / Wabash /5/ Fultz / Hungarian // Illinois No. 1, W38 /3/ Wabash /4/ Fairfield /6/ Redcoat / Wisconsin 245 / Afghanistan /9/4* Knox /8/( Purdue 5127 ) Kawvale /5/ Fultz / Hungarian // Illinois No. 1, W38 /3/ Wabash /4/ Fairfield /6/3* Trumbull // Hope / Hussar /7/ Knox sib /5/ Fairfield /4/ PI94587 // Fultz / Hungarian /3/ Fultz / Hungarian / 10 /2* Knox / Frex // Riley sib.