PERFORMANCE OF CROSSES OF SELECTED LINES OF TRIBOLIUM CASTANEUM

Abstract

Data from diallel crosses of seleced lines of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) with various degrees of inbreeding were analysed to determine the breeding potential of the selected lines for general combining ability (g.c.a.) and specific combining ability (s.c.a.). Crosses of lines selected for high pupa weight did not restore the losses of pupal weight due to inbreeding. In the downward selected lines, a reversal of inbreeding depression at five levels of inbreeding (0.12 < F < 0.79) was observed only among crosses of minimal inbreeding lines. G.c.a. effects were more often significant than those of s.c.a. which were significant only in crosses of full sib lines.