The improved performance of a hybrid over both of its parents, the phenomenon breeders call hybrid vigor. Demonstrated in maize by George Shull and Edward East in the early twentieth century, and made practical by Donald Jones's double-cross method of 1914 to 1917, it is the reason nearly all commercial corn is hybrid corn: the crosses substantially outyield conventional varieties and respond better to fertilizer. Why crossing distant parents produces the boost is still argued among competing genetic explanations.
Facts
Origin YearGeorge H. Shull coined the term heterosis in 1914, after he and Edward East had independently documented the yield gain in hybrid maize around 1908. Classification
Concept ClassGenetic Resources and Crop Diversity 1 Connections
Associated With
Maize, Crops Demonstrated in maize by Shull and East; Jones's double-cross of 1914 to 1917 made hybrid corn practical
Source Heterosis (Wikipedia)
Classified As
Developed By
Source Heterosis (Wikipedia)
Source Heterosis (Wikipedia)
In Discipline
The working principle behind hybrid breeding programs
Source Heterosis (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Heterosis (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section
Heterosis, hybrid vigor, or outbreeding enhancement is the improved or increased function of any biological quality in a hybrid offspring.
- History section
lead description (concept-class)
The improved performance of a hybrid over both of its parents, the phenomenon breeders call hybrid vigor.
Developed By: Edward Murray East, Genetic and epigenetic bases
The overdominance hypothesis was developed independently by Edward M. East (1908) and George Shull (1908).
Developed By: George Harrison Shull, Genetic and epigenetic bases
The overdominance hypothesis was developed independently by Edward M. East (1908) and George Shull (1908).
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