Toledo, OH - semi-update (and AG F1 hybrids)

Well, just to post my first update, although not complete yet....

I have these all growing well:

780 Mombert 98 (567.5 Mombert x 946.5 Geerts)
780 Eaton 98
480 Wellington (946.5 Geerts x 946.5 Geerts)
??? Sedlar 98 (I decided I would grow one for a pollinator)

O.K., now even if I don't end up with a 1000+ pumpkin (I will, but just for 
the sake of argument!), I will at least have some great seeds.
First, I will make a cross of the 780 Mombert and the 480 Wellington, which 
will result in a cross following a pattern that seems to be common in most of 
the seeds that grow the 900+ pounders. (selfed seed grown and crossed with 
another plant grown from a seed with the same father as plant A but another 
genetically good mother). And considering we are talking about doing this 
with the 946.5 and the 567 Mombert, look out!
ALSO, I am going to try something that no one has done before (I don't 
think?), and make a semi-hybrid. It isn't exactly an F1, but the closest we 
have come as far as I know.
Since the ??? Sedlar 98 is a selfed Mombert by 2 generations, (Each 
generation displaying good specific traits), and the 480 Wellington is a 
selfed 946.5 Geerts, (the only seed to produce two 1000+ pounders, and only 
grew to 480 because it was not fertilized OR watered, so the potential weight 
could have been double that), this would be crossing two extremely superior 
inbred lines, which would result in seeds that would have the best traits of 
both AND "hybrid vigor". Now I know this is a far cry from an F1, but there 
still will be SOME benefits that will produce possibly the best AG seed so 
far, (possibly!). Since the two lines are already "solid" in genetics, (at 
the top of the genetic performance list), that could compensate for the lack 
of inbreeding and picking of each line. This should also produce seeds with a 
higher consistancy, with more similar genetics. Higher than any other line. 
So it is less of a gamble of what genes you are getting in each seed. Of 
course the lines could be selfed further to filter out bad recessive traits, 
and possibly backcrossed with the 567 or 946.5 (good luck getting the 
seeds!), but hey, this is the closest anyone has come so far as far as I 
know. I can't imagine getting the best of both the 567.5 and 946.5 into one 
seed.....that is actually scary! Anyway, if all of this is sucessful, I'll 
have some really nice seeds to send out to everyone later this year!



---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PUMPKINS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index