The tendency of a cross-bred individual to show qualities superior to those of both parents.
Also called heterosis
Example sentencesExamples
- The causes of inbreeding depression and the converse phenomenon of heterosis or hybrid vigor remain poorly understood despite their scientific and agricultural importance.
- Utilization of hybrid vigor or heterosis has been successful in cross-pollinated crops, of which maize is a primary example.
- This phenomenon is commonly denoted as midparent heterosis of hybrid vigor.
- We therefore think that the results are more easily explained if immigrant genes are selectively favored, for instance, by hybrid vigor, which has been shown for one of the metapopulations.
- The molecular basis of hybrid vigor has remained unknown despite the importance of this phenomenon in evolution and in practical breeding programs.