Recombinant Inbred Lines

Abstract

Breeding cross-pollinated species is a challenge to the plant breeder. In plant breeding, inbred lines are used as stocks for the creation of hybrid lines to exploit heterosis. Inbred lines can be developed from a heterozygous natural population or from F₂ progeny. Inbreds are derived through repeated self-pollination. Usually, repeated self-pollinations up to 6–10 generations (i.e. 3–5 years when two seasons per year can be accomplished) are necessary to achieve homozygous inbred lines. Development of inbred parents can follow different breeding methods such as pedigree breeding, backcrossing, bulking, single-seed descent, doubled haploids.