POINTS TO REMEMBER:
o Cross-pollinating plants evolve under conditions of
constant gene recombination and suffer from “inbreeding depression” (symptoms of decreased vigor and the appearance of negative recessive genes when inbred).
o When breeding cross-pollinating plants one must be cautious to prevent crossing varieties of the same species. This can be accomplished through various methods of isolation.
o Genetic diversity must be maintained. High genetic diversity ensures that all possible genes (characteristics) are being represented in the variety.