On the theory of partially inbreeding finite populations. VI. The survival probability of a two-locus allele combination when there is partial selfing

Consider a large population with two loci that may be linked, with one having alleles A and a and the second alleles B and b. Let there be initially one individual with genotype AB/ab in a population otherwise consisting of ab/ab individuals. We assume that AB/ab, Ab/aB, AB/aB, AB/Ab and AB/AB individuals have higher probabilities of survival to adulthood than individuals with genotype ab/ab. The probability that AB ultimately survives, if there is a positive probability of selfing, is calculated. To simplify calculations, it is assumed that the number of offspring produced by any individual follows a Poisson distribution and that genotypes of separate offspring are independent. If recombination is possible, we conclude that a population with a high probability of selfing is more likely to accumulate epistatically favorable genes than one reproducing largely by random mating. This advantage of selfing becomes more pronounced as the strength of selection in favor of AB increases.