Genome Properties and Prospects of Genomic Prediction of Hybrid Performance in a Breeding Program of Maize

Maize (Zea mays L.) serves as model plant for heterosis research and is the crop where hybrid breeding was pioneered. We analyzed genomic and phenotypic data of 1254 hybrids of a typical maize hybrid breeding program based on the important Dent × Flint heterotic pattern. Our main objectives were to investigate genome properties of the parental lines (e.g., allele frequencies, linkage disequilibrium, and phases) and examine the prospects of genomic prediction of hybrid performance. We found high consistency of linkage phases and large differences in allele frequencies between the Dent and Flint heterotic groups in pericentromeric regions. These results can be explained by the Hill–Robertson effect and support the hypothesis of differential fixation of alleles due to pseudo-overdominance in these regions. In pericentromeric regions we also found indications for consistent marker–QTL linkage between heterotic groups. With prediction methods GBLUP and BayesB, the cross-validation prediction accuracy ranged from 0.75 to 0.92 for grain yield and from 0.59 to 0.95 for grain moisture. The prediction accuracy of untested hybrids was highest, if both parents were parents of other hybrids in the training set, and lowest, if none of them were involved in any training set hybrid. Optimizing the composition of the training set in terms of number of lines and hybrids per line could further increase prediction accuracy. We conclude that genomic prediction facilitates a paradigm shift in hybrid breeding by focusing on the performance of experimental hybrids rather than the performance of parental lines in testcrosses.     

SSR heterogenic patterns of parents for marking and predicting heterosis in rice breeding

The most important concerns of hybrid rice breeders are selection of donors to improve parental lines and prediction of hybrid performance. In this study, SSR molecular marker technology and a half-diallel method were used to address these related hybrid production issues. The results show that genetic diversity among the parental lines is certainly related to heterosis. The heterozygosity of each parental pair is significantly associated with the general combining ability, not with the specific combining ability. However, neither genetic diversity nor heterozygosity is a good indicator for predicting heterosis. From these results, it is suggested that donors for improving parents of hybrids be selected from the improved inbred lines by conventional breeding programs. In this investigation, we also discovered that four favorable alleles and six favorable heterogenic patterns on the parental lines significantly contribute to the heterosis of their hybrids in grain yield, whereas six unfavorable alleles and six unfavorable heterogenic patterns significantly reduce heterosis. These noticeable findings could be, in practice, useful for hybrid rice breeding programs with SSR marker-assisted selection. It is suggested that the optimal combinations with the superior grain yield could be bred out by assembling those favorable alleles into their parental lines and by removing the unfavorable alleles from the parental lines. This study also indicates that there is still a great heterosis potential to be exploited in indica/indica hybrids by the same strategy. In indica/japonica hybrid breeding programs, it may also be important to remove unfavorable alleles rather than broaden genetic diversity or heterozygosity of the parents.     

高粱穗部主要性状的配合力分析

以4个高粱不育系13163A、1358A、128A和407A,以及6个恢复系9.1R、213R、272R、381R、矮182R和早21R为试验材料,按照不完全双列杂交设计(NCII),对其F1的穗部主要性状进行配合力分析。结果表明:亲本穗部主要性状存在显著的遗传差异,主要表现为加性基因效应遗传的性状有:穗长、一级枝梗数、二级枝梗数、穗粒数;狭义遗传力大小顺序分别为:二级枝梗数一级枝梗数穗长穗粒数穗粒重千粒重。不同亲本的一般配合力(GCA)和特殊配合力(SCA)在不同穗部性状间存在较大差异。不育系407A和恢复系早21R、9.1R是综合性状较好的亲本材料,利用它们可组配出产量较高的杂交组合。恢复系272R组配的杂交种具有穗粒数较多、千粒重较小的特点,能满足市场上对小粒高粱的需求。深入分析高粱杂交亲本穗部主要性状表现,有利于对亲本材料的进一步了解和利用。     

Molecular marker-based prediction of hybrid performance in maize using unbalanced data from multiple experiments with factorial crosses

In hybrid breeding, the prediction of hybrid performance (HP) is extremely important as it is difficult to evaluate inbred lines in numerous cross combinations. Recent developments such as doubled haploid production and molecular marker technologies have enhanced the prospects of marker-based HP prediction to accelerate the breeding process. Our objectives were to (1) predict HP using a combined analysis of hybrids and parental lines from a breeding program, (2) evaluate the use of molecular markers in addition to phenotypic and pedigree data, (3) evaluate the combination of line per se data with marker-based estimates, (4) study the effect of the number of tested parents, and (5) assess the advantage of haplotype blocks. An unbalanced dataset of 400 hybrids from 9 factorial crosses tested in different experiments and data of 79 inbred parents were subjected to combined analyses with a mixed linear model. Marker data of the inbreds were obtained with 20 AFLP primer–enzyme combinations. Cross-validation was used to assess the performance prediction of hybrids of which no or only one parental line was testcross evaluated. For HP prediction, the highest proportion of explained variance (R ²), 46% for grain yield (GY) and 70% for grain dry matter content (GDMC), was obtained from line per se best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) estimates plus marker effects associated with mid-parent heterosis (TEAM-LM). Our study demonstrated that HP was efficiently predicted using molecular markers even for GY when testcross data of both parents are not available. This can help in improving greatly the efficiency of commercial hybrid breeding programs.     

中国17个优良玉米自交系的分子标记杂合性及其与杂交种性状的关系研究

在玉米单交种育种中 ,鉴定高产杂交种和具有优良特性的自交系是一个重要的问题。研究以 1 7个优良玉米自交系为亲本 ,按照双列杂交配组合 ,利用 RAPD技术分析了 1 7个自交系的多态性以及 RAPD标记与 9个重要农艺性状 (包括产量 )的关系。基于 RAPD标记计算的相似系数聚类将 1 7个自交系分为 5个类群 ,经分析与系谱亲缘关系基本一致。杂交种性状及其特殊配合力与亲本间的遗传距离是高度相关的 ,与聚类前比较 ,聚类后平均遗传距离与平均产量、平均特殊配合力的相关系数显著提高 ,类间平均产量高于类内平均产量。RAPD技术可揭示优良玉米自交系的系谱亲缘关系 ,将自交系划分成不同的类群 ,从而为选择类间自交系杂交 ,进行亲本选配和分子标记辅助育种提供一种方法。     

Relationships between four measures of genetic distance and breeding behavior in spring wheat

We estimated the genetic distances among 10 spring wheat genotypes based on pedigree data, morphological traits and AFLP markers, used individually and combined with morphological traits, to find the best predictors of general- and specific-combining abilities among parental genotypes. Ten wheat parents were crossed in a diallel form, disregarding reciprocal hybrids, totaling 45 combinations. The F(1) hybrids, F(2) populations and parents were evaluated in the field in 2007. The experimental plots consisted of 20 plants for F(1) hybrids and 40 plants for parental and F(2) populations. All methods (pedigree data, AFLP markers and morphological traits, used individually and combined) were found to be useful for the assessment of genetic diversity. The significant coefficient correlations ranged from low (0.45) to moderate (0.67) between the distance measures and hybrid performance. There was significant agreement between the distance measures based on AFLP markers vs morphological traits + AFLP markers (r = 0.47) and between pedigree data vs morphological traits + AFLP markers (r = 0.43). The pedigree distance was positively associated with traits 100-kernel weight and grain yield per plant in F(1) (correlations of 0.67 and 0.62, respectively) and F(2) (correlations of 0.62 and 0.59, respectively) generations. These correlation values indicate that the genetic distance, based on pedigree data, could replace diallel crosses for the selection of parents with higher combining ability and with moderate reliability.     

Prediction of single-cross hybrid performance for grain yield and grain dry matter content in maize using AFLP markers associated with QTL

Prediction methods to identify single-cross hybrids with superior yield performance have the potential to greatly improve the efficiency of commercial maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid breeding programs. Our objectives were to (1) identify marker loci associated with quantitative trait loci for hybrid performance or specific combining ability (SCA) in maize, (2) compare hybrid performance prediction by genotypic value estimates with that based on general combining ability (GCA) estimates, and (3) investigate a newly proposed combination of the GCA model with SCA predictions from genotypic value estimates. A total of 270 hybrids was evaluated for grain yield and grain dry matter content in four Dent × Flint factorial mating experiments, their parental inbred lines were genotyped with 20 AFLP primer-enzyme combinations. Markers associated significantly with hybrid performance and SCA were identified, genotypic values and SCA effects were estimated, and four hybrid performance prediction approaches were evaluated. For grain yield, between 38 and 98 significant markers were identified for hybrid performance and between zero and five for SCA. Estimates of prediction efficiency (R ²) ranged from 0.46 to 0.86 for grain yield and from 0.59 to 0.96 for grain dry matter content. Models enhancing the GCA approach with SCA estimates resulted in the highest prediction efficiency if the SCA to GCA ratio was high. We conclude that it is advantageous for prediction of single-cross hybrids to enhance a GCA-based model with SCA effects estimated from molecular marker data, if SCA variances are of similar or larger importance as GCA variances.     

Extending the rapeseed gene pool with resynthesized <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> II: Heterosis

Hybrid breeding relies on the combination of parents from two differing heterotic groups. However, the genetic diversity in adapted oilseed rape breeding material is rather limited. Therefore, the use of resynthesized Brassica napus as a distant gene pool was investigated. Hybrids were derived from crosses between 44 resynthesized lines with a diverse genetic background and two male sterile winter oilseed rape tester lines. The hybrids were evaluated together with their parents and check cultivars in 2 years and five locations in Germany. Yield, plant height, seed oil, and protein content were monitored, and genetic distances were estimated with molecular markers (127 polymorphic RFLP fragments). Resynthesized lines varied in yield between 40.9 dt/ha and 21.5 dt/ha, or between 85.1 and 44.6% of check cultivar yields. Relative to check cultivars, hybrids varied from 91.6 to 116.6% in yield and from 94.5 to 103.3% in seed oil content. Mid-parent heterosis varied from −3.5 to 47.2% for yield. The genetic distance of parental lines was not significantly correlated with heterosis or hybrid yield. Although resynthesized lines do not meet the elite rapeseed standards, they are a valuable source for hybrid breeding due to their large distance from present breeding material and their high heterosis when combined with European winter oilseed rape.     

The Physiology of Heterosis in Sorghum with Respect to Environmental Stress

The hypothesis that heterosis in biomass production of sorghum(Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) may be ascribed to stability incarbon exchange rate (CER) over a wide range of environmentalconditions was evaluated. This hypothesis was based on previousresults from detached leaves that hybrids sustained greaterCER over a wider temperture range than their parents. Two grain sorghum hybrids (ATx378/RTx430 and ATx378/RTx434)and their parental lines were grown in the greenhouse in a gradientof ambient temperatures under two water regimes (well-irrigatedand drought up to heading). Plant water-use (estimated by weighingpots), leaf area, leaf gas exchange, grain yield, and above-groundbiomass were determined. Significant heterosis was found for biomass, grain yield perplant, and grain number per panicle. No heterosis occurred forharvest index, indicating that heterosis in grain yield wasdue to heterosis in biomass. Neither growth duration nor leafarea could explain heterosis in biomass. CER and stomatal conductancefor hybrid ATx378/RTx430 in the controls were greater than forboth its parents at leaf temperatures above 38 °C. This,however, was not observed in the other hybrid which was lessheterotic for biomass and grain yield in the controls. WhenCER data were subjected to a stability analysis by joint linearregression, the two hybrids had greater CER than their respectiveparents especially under conditions favouring high CER. Whenextreme stress conditions developed, the hybrid's performancedepended on its genetic background more than on heterosis. Sorghum, Sorghum bicolor L. Moench., heterosis, hybrids, photosynthesis, transpiration, stomata, drought, heat, temperature     

Genetic diversity and its relationship to hybrid performance in maize as revealed by RFLP and AFLP markers

 The challenge to maize breeders is to identify inbred lines that produce highly heterotic hybrids. In the present study we surveyed genetic divergence among 13 inbred lines of maize using DNA markers and assessed the relationship between genetic distance and hybrid performance in a diallel set of crosses between them. The parental lines were assayed for DNA polymorphism using 135 restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and 209 amplified-fragment polymorphisms (AFLPs). Considerable variation among inbreds was detected with RFLP and AFLP markers. Moreover AFLPs detect polymorphisms more efficiently in comparison to RFLPs, due to the larger number of loci assayed in a single PCR reaction. Genetic distances (GDs), calculated from RFLP and AFLP data, were greater among lines belonging to different heterotic groups compared to those calculated from lines of the same heterotic group. Cluster analysis based on GDs revealed associations among lines which agree with expectations based on pedigree information. The GD values of the 78 F₁ crosses were partioned into general (GGD) and specific (SGD) components. Correlations of GD with F₁ performance for grain yield were positive but too small to be of predictive value. The correlations of SGDs, particularly those based on AFLP data, with specific combining-ability effects for yield may have a practical utility in predicting hybrid performance. Received: 15 August 1997 / Accepted: 19 September 1997     

Prediction of hybrid grain yield performances in Indica Rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) with effect-increasing loci

One hundred and fifty-one rice hybrids produced in two sets of half-dialell crosses and their parents (13 cytoplasmic male sterile lines and 19 restorers) were used to predict the F₁ performances of seven yield traits through the parental genetic distances (GD) based on SSR markers. The positive loci (PL) and effect-increasing loci (IL), which were screened from SSR polymorphic loci by the F₁ traits of 32 parents, together with total loci (TL), were utilized to estimate parental GD and the models were found to predict the traits of hybrids derived from different parents, fixed parents, and different environments, respectively. The results were as follows: (1) 550 polymorphic loci were detected from 174 SSR markers: a dendrogram based on these loci could separate all the sterile and restorer lines used in the present study, which indicated that parental genetic diversity of F₁ was large; (2) the correlations between F₁ traits and parental GDs based on IL ranged from 0.61 to 0.87 with a mean of 0.76, and they were higher than those on TL or on PL; (3) predictions based on IL for F₁ traits (except grain weight per plant) derived from different environments were ideal, but worse for F₁ traits derived from different parents; and (4) IL was more effective than TL and PL in predicting traits of F₁ with fixed parents, and predictions for fixed restorer combinations were more effective than those for fixed sterile line combinations. These results should facilitate molecular prediction for hybrid yield and other traits by means of both elite sterile and restorer lines.     

Determination of heterotic groups for tropical Indica hybrid rice germplasm

Key message

Two heterotic groups and four heterotic patterns were identified for IRRI hybrid rice germplasm to develop hybrid rice in the tropics based on SSR molecular data and field trials.

Abstract

Information on heterotic groups and patterns is a fundamental prerequisite for hybrid crop breeding; however, no such clear information is available for tropical hybrid rice breeding after more than 30 years of hybrid rice commercialization. Based on a study of genetic diversity using molecular markers, 18 parents representing hybrid rice populations historically developed at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) were selected to form diallel crosses of hybrids and were evaluated in tropical environments. Yield, yield heterosis and combining ability were investigated with the main objectives of (1) evaluating the magnitude of yield heterosis among marker-based parental groups, (2) examining the consistency between marker-based group and heterotic performance of hybrids, and (3) identifying foundational hybrid parents in discrete germplasm pools to provide a reference for tropical indica hybrid rice breeding. Significant differences in yield, yield heterosis and combining ability were detected among parents and among hybrids. On average, the hybrids yielded 14.8 % higher than the parents. Results revealed that inter-group hybrids yielded higher, with higher yield heterosis than intra-group hybrids. Four heterotic patterns within two heterotic groups based on current IRRI B- and R-line germplasm were identified. Parents in two marker-based groups were identified with limited breeding value among current IRRI hybrid rice germplasm because of their lowest contribution to heterotic hybrids. Heterotic hybrids are significantly correlated with high-yielding parents. The efficiency of breeding heterotic hybrids could be enhanced using selected parents within identified marker-based heterotic groups. This information is useful for exploiting those widely distributed IRRI hybrid rice parents.     

Preliminary research of the RAPD molecular marker-assisted breeding of the edible basidiomycete Stropharia rugoso-annulata

Summary The average RAPD molecular genetic distance was proposed as a criterion in selecting monokaryotic parents for cross breeding and predicting the performance of hybrids of the mushroom Stropharia rugoso-annulata. Three groups of cross pairs or hybrids were recognized based on the average RAPD genetic distance of the monokaryotic parental population. The RAPD-based molecular genetic distance significantly correlated with hybrid mycelial growth rate and mycelial growth heterosis, and their determination coefficients were 0.9237 and 0.8464 respectively. One of the hybrids in group I showed more vigorous mycelial growth in different pH conditions, incubation temperatures, carbon and nitrogen sources, and higher mushroom yield compared with its dikaryotic parent. These results suggested that RAPD-based molecular genetic distance of the monokaryotic parents might be a suitable criterion for selecting monokaryotic parents and predicting the performance of hybrids in mushroom cross breeding.     

Evaluation of Public Sweet Sorghum A-Lines for Use in Hybrid Production

A fundamental need for commercialization of sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] as a bioenergy crop is an adequate seed supply, which will require development of hybrid varieties using dwarf seed-parent lines. A set of six public sweet sorghum A-lines (Dwarf Kansas Sourless, KS9, N36, N38, N39, and N4692) were crossed with a set of six public sweet sorghum cultivars (Brawley, Kansas Collier, Dale, Sugar Drip, Waconia, and Wray). Grain, fiber, and sugar yields were determined, and conversion formulas were applied to estimate ethanol yields. Hybrids were grown in fields at Ithaca, NE, USA, in 1983–1984 fertilized with 112 kg ha^?1 N. In terms of yield components and overall ethanol yields, one A-line, N38, was inferior. Average total ethanol yields from hybrids made on the other A-lines were not significantly different, suggesting that any of those five A-lines could be useful seed-parents. With the exception of grain yield, cultivars used as pollen parents were among the highest-performing entries for all traits. For all traits directly contributing to total ethanol yield (grain yield, juice yield, % soluble solids, sugar yield, fiber yield), hybrids were also among the highest-performing entries. Results of this study demonstrate that hybrid sweet sorghum with performance criteria equivalent to existing sweet sorghum cultivars can be produced on the sweet sorghum seed-parent lines A-Dwarf Kansas Sourless, A-KS9, A-N36, A-N39, and A-N4692. Identification of specific seed-parent × pollen parent lines with characteristics best suited for particular growing regions and end-user needs will be critical for commercial hybrid development.     

Prediction of hybrid performance in maize using molecular markers and joint analyses of hybrids and parental inbreds

The identification of superior hybrids is important for the success of a hybrid breeding program. However, field evaluation of all possible crosses among inbred lines requires extremely large resources. Therefore, efforts have been made to predict hybrid performance (HP) by using field data of related genotypes and molecular markers. In the present study, the main objective was to assess the usefulness of pedigree information in combination with the covariance between general combining ability (GCA) and per se performance of parental lines for HP prediction. In addition, we compared the prediction efficiency of AFLP and SSR marker data, estimated marker effects separately for reciprocal allelic configurations (among heterotic groups) of heterozygous marker loci in hybrids, and imputed missing AFLP marker data for marker-based HP prediction. Unbalanced field data of 400 maize dent × flint hybrids from 9 factorials and of 79 inbred parents were subjected to joint analyses with mixed linear models. The inbreds were genotyped with 910 AFLP and 256 SSR markers. Efficiency of prediction (R ²) was estimated by cross-validation for hybrids having no or one parent evaluated in testcrosses. Best linear unbiased prediction of GCA and specific combining ability resulted in the highest efficiencies for HP prediction for both traits (R ² = 0.6–0.9), if pedigree and line per se data were used. However, without such data, HP for grain yield was more efficiently predicted using molecular markers. The additional modifications of the marker-based approaches had no clear effect. Our study showed the high potential of joint analyses of hybrids and parental inbred lines for the prediction of performance of untested hybrids.     

Exploring Potential of Pearl Millet Germplasm Association Panel for Association Mapping of Drought Tolerance Traits

A pearl millet inbred germplasm association panel (PMiGAP) comprising 250 inbred lines, representative of cultivated germplasm from Africa and Asia, elite improved open-pollinated cultivars, hybrid parental inbreds and inbred mapping population parents, was recently established. This study presents the first report of genetic diversity in PMiGAP and its exploitation for association mapping of drought tolerance traits. For diversity and genetic structure analysis, PMiGAP was genotyped with 37 SSR and CISP markers representing all seven linkage groups. For association analysis, it was phenotyped for yield and yield components and morpho-physiological traits under both well-watered and drought conditions, and genotyped with SNPs and InDels from seventeen genes underlying a major validated drought tolerance (DT) QTL. The average gene diversity in PMiGAP was 0.54. The STRUCTURE analysis revealed six subpopulations within PMiGAP. Significant associations were obtained for 22 SNPs and 3 InDels from 13 genes under different treatments. Seven SNPs associations from 5 genes were common under irrigated and one of the drought stress treatments. Most significantly, an important SNP in putative acetyl CoA carboxylase gene showed constitutive association with grain yield, grain harvest index and panicle yield under all treatments. An InDel in putative chlorophyll a/b binding protein gene was significantly associated with both stay-green and grain yield traits under drought stress. This can be used as a functional marker for selecting high yielding genotypes with ‘stay green’ phenotype under drought stress. The present study identified useful marker-trait associations of important agronomics traits under irrigated and drought stress conditions with genes underlying a major validated DT-QTL in pearl millet. Results suggest that PMiGAP is a useful panel for association mapping. Expression patterns of genes also shed light on some physiological mechanisms underlying pearl millet drought tolerance.     

Heritability estimates in contrasting environments as influenced by the adaptation level of barley germ plasm

Low heritability estimates in marginal or stress environments have often been used as one of the main justification for conducting selection work in environments with optimum or near‐optimum conditions for plant growth and grain yield. In this study, we have examined the relationships between grain yield and broad‐sense heritability in four groups of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) obtained from four barley crosses derived from parents differing in adaptation to stress. The RILs and the parents were grown in 13 combinations of years and locations (environments) in Syria and Jordan. Grain yields ranged from about 30 kg ha^?1 to nearly 4000 kg ha^?1 and genotype × environment interactions explained about half of the total variance for environmentally standardised data. Broad‐sense heritability in the individual year–location combinations varied from 0 to 0.68 and both the simple correlation and the rank correlation coefficients between grain yield and heritability were not significant. Genotype × years within individual locations, which measures the repeatability of a location in discriminating between genotypes, was also independent from the yield level, confirming that low‐yielding locations can be reliable selection environments. Also, there was no relationship between the type of cross and the magnitude of heritability in the various environments, but, as expected, the magnitude of heritability was significantly associated with the genetic distance between the parents. It is concluded that, holding all other factors affecting response to selection constant, concerns about the magnitude of heritability at low‐yielding locations are not justified and should not prevent them from being used as selection sites.     

Prediction of single-cross hybrid performance in maize using haplotype blocks associated with QTL for grain yield

Marker-based prediction of hybrid performance facilitates the identification of untested single-cross hybrids with superior yield performance. Our objectives were to (1) determine the haplotype block structure of experimental germplasm from a hybrid maize breeding program, (2) develop models for hybrid performance prediction based on haplotype blocks, and (3) compare hybrid performance prediction based on haplotype blocks with other approaches, based on single AFLP markers or general combining ability (GCA), under a validation scenario relevant for practical breeding. In total, 270 hybrids were evaluated for grain yield in four Dent × Flint factorial mating experiments. Their parental inbred lines were genotyped with 20 AFLP primer–enzyme combinations. Adjacent marker loci were combined into haplotype blocks. Hybrid performance was predicted on basis of single marker loci and haplotype blocks. Prediction based on variable haplotype block length resulted in an improved prediction of hybrid performance compared with the use of single AFLP markers. Estimates of prediction efficiency (R ² ) ranged from 0.305 to 0.889 for marker-based prediction and from 0.465 to 0.898 for GCA-based prediction. For inter-group hybrids with predominance of general over specific combining ability, the hybrid prediction from GCA effects was efficient in identifying promising hybrids. Considering the advantage of haplotype block approaches over single marker approaches for the prediction of inter-group hybrids, we see a high potential to substantially improve the efficiency of hybrid breeding programs. Tobias A. Schrag and Hans Peter Maurer contributed equally to this work.     

Hybrid wheat: quantitative genetic parameters and consequences for the design of breeding programs

Key message

Commercial heterosis for grain yield is present in hybrid wheat but long-term competiveness of hybrid versus line breeding depends on the development of heterotic groups to improve hybrid prediction.

Abstract

Detailed knowledge of the amount of heterosis and quantitative genetic parameters are of paramount importance to assess the potential of hybrid breeding. Our objectives were to (1) examine the extent of midparent, better-parent and commercial heterosis in a vast population of 1,604 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) hybrids and their parental elite inbred lines and (2) discuss the consequences of relevant quantitative parameters for the design of hybrid wheat breeding programs. Fifteen male lines were crossed in a factorial mating design with 120 female lines, resulting in 1,604 of the 1,800 potential single-cross hybrid combinations. The hybrids, their parents, and ten commercial wheat varieties were evaluated in multi-location field experiments for grain yield, plant height, heading time and susceptibility to frost, lodging, septoria tritici blotch, yellow rust, leaf rust, and powdery mildew at up to five locations. We observed that hybrids were superior to the mean of their parents for grain yield (10.7 %) and susceptibility to frost (?7.2 %), leaf rust (?8.4 %) and septoria tritici blotch (?9.3 %). Moreover, 69 hybrids significantly (P < 0.05) outyielded the best commercial inbred line variety underlining the potential of hybrid wheat breeding. The estimated quantitative genetic parameters suggest that the establishment of reciprocal recurrent selection programs is pivotal for a successful long-term hybrid wheat breeding.