heterosis

Term: heterosis

Literally meaning: differentition
Origin: Anc Greek

έτερος/heteros(=different, other)

- ωσις/-osis(=suffix denoting state or condition such as  "a disease state")

Coined/History

in 1914, the term 'heterosis'  was coined and first proposed by G. H. Shullin in order to describe the improved vigour of F₁ hybrids in comparison to their parental homozygous  lines.

Definition

Heterosis or hybrid vigor is the increase in size, growth rate or fertility of a offspring over those of its parents. Since 1930s, exploitation of heterosis has spread to include many other crop plants.