Additive main effect and multiplicative interaction model for a diallel-cross analysis

Diallel mating designs have proved informative in determining the inheritance of quantitative traits of interest to plant breeders. Apart from the well-established analyses of a complete diallel, the two-way factorial data structure of this design lends itself to analysis by the additive-main-effects-and-multiplicative-interaction (AMMI) model. This research article describes the joint application of the AMMI model and Griffing’s method 1, model I, to gain insight into the breeding value of inbred lines in a self-pollinated crop such as disomic, hexaploid bread wheat. Data from a multi-environment trial of a complete diallel cross between eight lines adapted to the East African highlands were analyzed to provide an example of this joint analysis. This combined approach identified not only the direction of a cross, i.e. which parent should be male or female, but also which crosses produce offspring showing F₁ heterosis. Received: 10 June 2000 / Accepted: 31 July 2000