Question

The average viability of seeds produced by forced selfing (inbreeding) in a plant breeding experiment was 0.5 while the average viability of seeds produced by natural outcrossing in the same experiment was 0.95.

What is the value of the inbreeding depression coefficient in this population?

A = 0.5          B = 0.47          C = 0.52         D = 0.95     E = none of the above

Please show any work that led to this answer, Thanks!

Answer 1

The average viability of seeds produced by natural outcrossing (H​​​​​​e ) = 0.95

The average viability of seeds produced by forced selfing (inbreeding) (H​​​​​​o ) = 0.5

H​​​​​​e = Expected heterozygosity

H​​​​​​o = Observed heterozygosity

Inbreeding depression coefficient =

=

=

= 0.47   

Thus the correct answer will be (b) 0.47