Comparison of full and half-sib reciprocal recurrent selection.

Full and half-sib reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS) were compared algebraically and with computer simulation. The relative performance of the two schemes depended on the selection intensity and the environmental variance. Full-sib RRS was favoured at less intense selection and when the environmental variance was large relative to the total genetic variation. As selection intensity increased its advantage declined. Full-sib RRS enables a breeder to combine the efficient development of new hybrids with population improvement and should be a valuable technique in plant breeding.