Frequency - dependent advantage in wheat.

The effect of frequency-dependent advantage in wheat was investigated by growing F1. hybrid seeds of the crosses (Warimek X Halberd) and (Wariquam x Halberd) in a stand of Halberd at 5 frequencies: 4 %, 6.25 %, 11.11 %, 25 % and 50 %. A reduction of 35 % to 40 % in grain yield of individual plants was observed with both hybrids as their frequencies changed from 4% to 50 %. A similar trend with frequency was noted for several other plant characteristics, including total grain number, particularly with those measured towards the end of the growing season. Halberd plants did not show a corresponding increase as their frequency declined from 96 % to 50%. - The following season, 76 F4 lines from the cross (Warimek X Halberd) and 70 F4 lines from (Wariquam x Gabo) were grown at frequencies of 6.25% and 18.75% in machine sown stands of Wariquam and Halberd, respectively. Again grain yield decreased as genotypic frequency increased. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between frequency-dependent advantage and relative grain yield, suggesting that high yielding genotypes show a greater advantage at low frequencies than lower yielding ones.