Genetic architecture of nonadditive inheritance in Arabidopsis thaliana hybrids
Résumé
Significance Hybrid progeny of inbred parents are often more fit than their parents. Such hybrid vigor, or heterosis, is the focus of many plant breeding programs, and the rewards are evident. Hybrid maize has for many decades accounted for the majority of seed planted each year in North America and Europe. Despite the prevalence of this phenomenon and its agricultural importance, the genetic basis of heterotic traits is still unclear. We have used a large collection of first-generation hybrids in Arabidopsis thaliana to characterize the genetics of heterosis in this model plant. We have identified loci that contribute substantially to hybrid vigor and show that a subset of these exhibits classical dominance, an important finding with direct implications for crop improvement.