Multiline Variety

What is Multiline Variety – Definition?

Multiline variety is a mixture of several pure lines of similar phenotype(height, seed color flowering time, maturity time and various other agronomic characteristics) but have different genes for the character under consideration the disease resistance means these are isogenic lines. At the same time they do not reduce the yielding ability of each other when grown in mixture (i.e. compatible).

What is Multiline Breeding – Definition?

Procedure followed to develop multiline variety is called as multiline breeding.

Examples of Multiline Variety

  • Kalyan sonaWheat variety Kalyan sona is the suitable example to explain the concept. This variety was originally resistant to brown rust. Later on became susceptible to new races of pathogen.Several pure lines with different resistance genes are produced through backcross breeding using one recipient or recurrent parent. The donor parents are the one with different genes for the disease resistance, every donor parent is used in separate back cross program. Because of this each line receives different gene for disease resistance according to the type of pathogen. Five to ten of such lines with different alleles for disease resistance are mixed to develop multiline variety. The lines to be mixed are determined by the races of the pathogen relevant to the area considered.
  • MLKS11 (8 closely related lines)
  • KML7404 (9 closely related lines)

The page Multiline Variety – Production and Advantages provides information about the production method of multiline variety and its advantages, disadvantages.