DIALLEL CROSSES OF REPLICATE SELECTED LINES OF RATS

Abstract

A 6 × 6 diallel experiment was conducted with two control lines (Ri), two lines (Ui) selected for increased and two lines (Di) selected for decreased 3- to 9-wk body weight gain. Traits studied were 2-, 3-, 6- and 9-wk body weights and 3- to 9-wk body weight gain. For all traits, marginal means for dams or sires ranked in the order U > R > D. There was good agreement between replicate dam lines and between replicate sire lines for general combining ability. There was no clear evidence of any specific combining ability (non-additive gene effects) from crosses of lines within or between selection treatments.