Estimation of variance components based on triallel mating design

The simple mating designs provide unbiased estimates for genetic components of variance (additive genetic variance and dominance variance) under the assumption of no epistatic effect. There is empirical evidence, however, that suggests the existence of epistatic gene effects. The triallel and double cross mating designs permit the estimation of epistatic gene effects. A systematic and mathematical approach is suggested for the estimation of variance components based on the alternate model for triallel mating design.