Predicting and observing the properties of second cycle hybrids using basic generations and inbred line x F sub(1) crosses

The phenotypic and genotypic properties of second cycle hybrids are predited from the means and variances of the F sub(2) generation of two crosses between pairs of inbred varieties of Nicotiana rustica) (V sub(1) x V sub(5) and V sub(2) x V sub(12)). The predicted properties are compared with the observed properties of the second cycle hybrids generated by crossing the first cycle recombinant inbred lines with the F sub(1) of the original cross (the L sub(3) generation of an inbred line triple test cross) which, in the absence of a linkage disequilibrium, are identical with the second cycle hybrids produced as a diallel set of crosses among the first cycle inbred lines. In the presence of a linkage disequilibrium the diallel set of crosses has a smaller linkage bias than the inbred line x F sub(1) crosses.