Thread: Backcrossing
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Old May 4, 2015   #4
Fusion_power
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Alabama
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Selecting in the F2, then doing the cross with the best F2 plant(s) is usually the best choice. There is a factor of how much chromosome fragmentation occurs from cross-over. Doing a backcross using an F2 allows for more effective selection as the fragments become smaller.

With modern DNA tools to assist selection, it is possible to dramatically reduce the number of generations to stabilize a given set of genes. As the cost of a dna profile goes down, we should see tools available that backyard breeders have not previously had access to. I'm still waiting for that $35 tomato DNA test. We may not see it for a few more years, but we will eventually see it.
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