Principles of Genetics and Breeding (1+1)

2.1.16 Pure line

• A group of individuals with similar genetic background (breeding) often referred to as a line or strain or variety or breed.
• Self-fertilization or mating closely related individuals for many generations (inbreeding) usually produces a population which is homozygous at nearly all loci.
• Matings between the homozygous individuals of a pure line produce only homozygous offspring like the parents. Thus we say that a pure line always “breeds true”.