Application of diallel analyses in crop improvement
For proper recommendation of the most reliable method of effective crop improvement, the knowledge and practice of diallel analysis is paramount. A diallel cross is a mating scheme used by plant and animal breeders, as well as geneticists, to investigate the genetic underpinnings of qualitative and quantitative traits. There are four main types of diallel mating design: i. Full diallel in which parents and reciprocal crosses are involved along with F1 ii. Half diallel with parent and without reciprocal crosses iii. Full diallel without inclusion of parents and iv. Half diallel without parents or reciprocal crosses. Several breeding methods are available for improvement of both quantitative and qualitative traits of different crops. Diallel crosses represent the best strategy for determining the general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities between putative parents and subsequently, the choice of breeding method. In this way, the objective of the present review is to elucidate the import of diallel analyses in crop improvement.