How sensitive is marijuanna to inbred depression? I know it's a general question that is going to depend on the genetics of the plants involved, but in general. How difficult is it to make it to a f# that will breed true before it starts to self destruct?

My thought is to start 3 different sets (possibly hybrids - possibly stablized), and breed them for the best traits that express themselves, until they start either breeding true(-ish), or start showing too much inbred depression at which time the best out of the two sets are bred together for a hybrid vigor boost.

Do you think that this a valid plan? My intent is not to replicate a particular breed from the hybrids, but to make sure there are some good genes in the woodpile for a new combination.

You definately have the right idea, but it kind of sounds like you want to achieve a stabilized hybridization, then you turn around and kind of say you don't really care about the likely pheno expression of the result?..
Or do you mean you aren't aiming to copy the pheno expression of some commercial strain that has been developed via a similar breeding program?..
Anyway, you can combat depression without infusing a whole new lot of genetics that will really undo your achieved stability by back-breeding only part way to the original parent when you feel vigor is being hurt.. eg: Keep a couple F2's that can act as back-breeding partners when you're leary about crossing F6's back to the P1's

Thanks! All I meant was that I wasn't trying to find out about starting with a particular phenotype and replicate that exact strain. For example, if one starts with breeder seeds, the F2 phenotypes will vary, but there will be some good genes in there that can hopefully be selected for. I was thinking about marking and cloning each plant to start with so I could veg one and flower one to review. I like the idea of intercrossing different fs to preserve the genetics without losing too much of the selection already done. How many generations should seperate two plants of the same line to combat inbred depression?

Basically what I am thinking of is getting some good quality seeds, selecting - stabilizing a couple strains, and then crossing them together for a strain "taliored" for my enviroment - preferances. No offense meant to what's available, but wouldn't it be cool to have your stuff something that you could have at least some claim to?
I'm not talking about entering a contest or going commercial, just some bragging rights to the select few friends that you hang - smoke with. Made homemade beer one time for the same sort of reason.

i make beer and spirits pretty much as u say to be yours im working on breeding projects with some special bagseeds but space is limited atm so only popin 20-30 beans at a time one day...

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i dont see why i should be the criminal
how can somethin with no recorded fatalitys be illegal

Rock on and good luck Superskunk!

We may not be like the big boys with thier huge harems, but each one of our ladies gets more love, more often.

What are the traits of the bagseed you wish to stabilize? Its good to start drawing up a plan early.. The ratios of the phenotypes resulting from your first batch will yield info about the parent's genotypes, and whether [for any particular trait/allele] they are DD (homozygous dominent or true breeding), Dd (heterozygous), or dd (homozygous recessive and will only breed true within their own inbred population)..
Stabilize the traits that are important to you, and disregard the rest..

In all honesty preventing inbred depression by cubing as a home hobbyist will prove to be difficult. With only 3 sets of genetics in play and the fact that interest typically lies with the female plant, it will be difficult to select the strongest male plants to back breed with.

You would need a fairly large cross section of genetics to insure hybrid vigor. It is not always a guarantee that the offspring will recombine in a way that is superior to the parents with the relatively small pool of genes you are working with.

No harm in trying it out though!

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One sec...I am trying to think of something clever...
Got CFL? http://www.rollitup.org/cfl-growing/71259-cfl-sog.html

Tanuvan,

I know that the selection is small, but I could luck out, and worst case I doubt I'll mangle them to the point they aren't smokable.
What I am thinking is
Set 1: Power Skunk
Set 2: Northern Lights x Big Bud
Set 3: this weird ass funky mutant looking thing I grew from a mystery seed that looks like hell but the leaves even in veg (well preflower) state give a pretty damn fair buzz. Cloned and crossed with a male from Set 1 and/or Set 2.

Idealy I think I'd start with an unrelated I and a S, but what's available is what's available.

Keeping each set seperate, breeding each to stabilize and for my desired traits until the end, toss them together and see what comes up.

Could wind up with crap, could wind up with something cool, but in any event, will give me a pet project to mess around with for a long time.

born2killspam,

The traits I want to select for are:
Performs in the enviroment well (imperical, measure how well it grows for me)
Reasonable yield (imperical)
Flavor-Stone (subjective, taste/effect trials)

Not trying to make an uber producing one hit wonder, just some nice mellow good tasting herb that will get you there. Well that, and I gotta see what the mutant freak does, might be damaged and terminal, might be something I'd like to have around.

And, yeah, I now know more about Mendel than I ever thought I would... Herb for education for the win!!

Everybody have thier own spin on things, personally I like 2 or 3 liter soda bottles for pots (they go deep, not wide), and vertical floros for flowering (light hits the length of the plant), so we know I'm not "serious". No offense to the "machine", but I think there is still room for the personal use "hobbiest".

Nicely said man.

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everything i say and show is a lie! i'm a compulsive liar.

Just an FYI a brief update.

Set 1 & 3, down to a token plant apiece. I was not impressed with the Power Skunk at all. Well, I would have been, but the BB x NL makes some damn nice plants, and I'm being picky.

Set 2: Keeping an eye on potency, but to tell the truth, wouldn't want it to hit much harder. It's right about a couple hits every couple hours, nice mix of head and body. If well cured, noticable body tingle-numb sort of sensation, esp if coughed.
Still a bit stretchy, about doubles in flowering. Not superfast to finish, but keeps adding mass at a nice rate for almost the entire flowering period.

Still have some P1s, and using them for the standard, if the offspring shows improvements in desired traits they stay, otherwise they go.