Department of Crop Sciences, Georg-August-University, Goettingen, von Siebold 8, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
Theor Appl Genet. 2010 Jan;120(2):261-70. doi: 10.1007/s00122-009-1057-7.
Seeds, i.e. embryos, may be genetically different from either of their parents and moreover may express their own heterosis. The objective was to genetically analyse embryo heterosis for their own weight (i.e. seed weight) in comparison with their seedlings' heterosis, taking the large-seeded crop (Vicia faba L.) as model. A specific diallel mating scheme was used, based on four parental lines, creating 76 seed genotypes in generations P, F(1), F(2) and BC. Mature seed weight was assessed for these embryo genotypes in 3 years at one German location, and young plant biomass yield of seedlings emerging from these seeds in two greenhouse experiments. The quantitative genetic analysis showed an average of 10.6% mid-parent heterosis for mature seed weight and 14.5% mid-parent heterosis for juvenile biomass. In both traits, the embryos contributed markedly and significantly via their own genes to the genetic variation. For mature embryo weight heterosis, apparently the parental difference in seed weight was decisive, whereas for juvenile biomass heterosis, genetic unrelatedness of parents had priority.
种子，即胚胎，可能在基因上与父母中的任何一方不同，而且可能表现出自身的杂种优势。本研究以大粒作物（Vicia faba L.）为模型，旨在通过特定的双列杂交设计，对自身重量（即种子重量）的胚胎杂种优势进行基因分析，并与幼苗杂种优势进行比较。在德国的一个地点，对这些胚胎基因型进行了 3 年的成熟种子重量评估，在两个温室实验中，对这些种子萌发的幼苗的生物量进行了评估。数量遗传学分析表明，成熟种子重量的中亲杂种优势平均为 10.6%，幼株生物量的中亲杂种优势平均为 14.5%。在这两个性状中，胚胎通过自身基因对遗传变异有显著的贡献。对于成熟胚胎重量杂种优势，显然种子重量的亲本差异是决定性的，而对于幼株生物量杂种优势，亲本之间的遗传无关性则更为重要。
