Quantitative Genetics for Quality Experimentation

Contents:

Preface
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Basics of Probability Theory? Probability • Simple and Compound Events • Addition and Multiplication Laws • Conditional Event and Multiplication Law and Theorem of Probability • Multiplication Theorem • Partitioning of Sample Space • Bayes Theorem • Use of Matrix Theory in Solving Problems in the Field of Probability • Common Mating Systems
Chapter 3: Distributions • Expectations and Moments of a Variable • Discrete and Continuous Distributions • Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) • Fixed and Random Effects Model: Major Difference • t-test and Inferences • Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) • Appendix 3.6
Chapter 4: Inference: Essential Basics • Important Concepts of Inference • Tests of Significance, Confidence Limit and Confidence Interval • Likelihood • Likelihood Ratio
Chapter 5: Quantitative Genetics: Genetic Analysis of Phenotypic Variation • Basics • QT and Genetic Values: Case of a Single Gene • Phenotypic and Genetic Variance • Alternate Formulation of Additive Genetic Variance and Interpretation of Additive Effect • Generation Means and Genetic Effects • Additive Genetic Variance and Natural Selection • Two Genes • QT Values in Two Genes • Genetic Effects and Variances in Two Genes • Various Types of Gene Interaction
Chapter 6: Inbreeding and Heterosis • Genotypic Frequencies Under Inbreeding • Li's Formulation of Inbreeding Coefficient • Additive Genetic Variance Under Inbreeding • Useful Relationships Involving Inbreeding • Heterosis • Inbreeding Depression • Breeding Value
Chapter 7: Genetic Divergence • Basics of Genetic Divergence • Numerical Example • Importance of Characters in Genetic Differentiation • Genetic Divergence and Heterosis • Implications of Genetic Divergence-Heterosis Hypothesis in Plant Breeding • Appendix 1: The process of obtaining linear combinations Y using error variance-covariance matrix in Section 7.2
Chapter 8: Mating Systems • Diallel Crosses • Covariance Between Relatives • Half-sibs and Full-sibs • Covariance of Half- and Full-sibs in the General Case • Diallel Crosses (Griffing's Approach) • Line • Tester Design • Partial Diallel Cross • Multiple Crosses • Diallel Crosses: Some General Observations • Inferences Derived from Analysis of Diallel Crosses • Covariance of Combining Ability  
Chapter 9: Selection • Basics • Improvement by Selection • Annexure 9-1
Chapter 10: Populations • Types of Equilibria • Stability of Equilibria • Mean Fitness Curve and Equilibria • Synthetic and Composite Populations • Pathway to Construct Populations  
Appendix 1: Elements of Matrices and Determinants, and Basics  of Differentiation
Appendix 2: Permutations and Combinations
References
Index

About the Author:

V. Arunachalam joined the Biometrical Genetics unit initiated by Professor B.R. Murty at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, in 1963. Together they researched on varied applications of quantitative genetic concepts for crop improvement. This work enabled Arunachalam to join for a Ph.D. at Cambridge University, England. His Ph.D. thesis is marked by novel approaches for analyzing polymorphisms with linked loci (published as a book, Chapman & Hall, 1971). On return, he became the head of the Biometrical Genetics unit. Along with his Ph.D. students, he explored intuitive and efficient approaches to improving crop productivity. He was awarded a National Chair of Eminence by ICAR. He is an ardent teacher, formulated and taught fundamental and advanced courses in Quantitative Genetics to graduate students for over three decades. His inventive methods of teaching gave a new orientation to the subject that would be visible in this book. Professor Arunachalam is an elected Fellow of all the four well known scientific academies in India.