Want to do a lil pollen chucking...

GangaDownUnder

Well-Known Member
Hey,

Just a few quick questions :)

Whats the deal with the majority of seeds that we're buying from seedbanks. I think I've seen it posted around that they're mostly F1's? Unless they state what it is, is there any way to know or find out?

So, if I get a pack of regular seeds (that happen to be F1's) and use one of the males to pollinate one of the females, I will be making F2's? And F2's are a lot more genetically viarible...ie it's more of a crap shoot with what you'll get?

But, if I take a male of Strain A and a female of Strain B and cross them, then the resulting seeds will be F1's and will be more stable and uniform (25% like M, 25% like F, 50% Mix?)?

Sorry if its all pretty basic stuff. I did do a bit of light reading but a lot of it just went over my head. I'll keep at it, but any help for the meantime will be much appreciated. Im keen to do a little pollen chucking...actual breeding is clearly out of my league haha :)

Thanks
 

Mick20

Member
A strain that 'breeds true" will have very few phenotypes (which is how we observe genetic variables), generation after generation. The majority of the plants will be uniform in shape and size because their genetics have been stabilized through several generations of selective breeding; choosing this trait or that (or, naturally inbreeding/backcrossing). So theoretically, yes, if the seeds you received from the seedbank are in fact F1's their prodigy with have a higher percentage of genetic variations which would reveal themselves in their differing phenotypes. If the seeds have been stabilized the offspring will resemble their parents.

Think of it like grandparents. You may look a lot like your parents, and parents may look like their parents, but you may or may not look anything like your parents' parents (grandparents). So, it's not a crap shot, it's that there are more gene posibilities than the previous generations.

It's not an easy subject and I'm learning more everyday myself. Breeding is a science and an art. You have to be dedicated to the craft and sadly many breeders are there cash in on the hype of new strains. Breeding can take years and many generations. Dog breeders have spent their entire lives developing a breed only to see their years of crumble with the diagnosis of hip dysplasia.
 
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