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

In a message dated 8/3/99 8:24:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
indbio@disknet.com writes:

> I would call it an F1. Actually the seeds of any cross inbred or not is
>  called F1. If one begins with seeds which have been inbred for a long
>  time like those of Roger Swalley, then one should get a stable fruit
>  (uniform color, ridges, weight, flavor etc) from the F1 seeds, never
>  anything bigger than what you got that first year (except for
>  environment and normal deviation).
>    Such seeds would be great for a commerical produce like Big Max or
>  Prize Winner, but the folks on this list are not interested in acres of
>  1000 lb pumkins they want crosses where one might be a 1011 pounder. 
>  -- 

Wait.... the stability isn't what the main goal is, really. It is the level 
of control in combining the right genetics together, which we do not have in 
regular crossing, since some traits are recessive, and the genetics of each 
seed is so variable, we do not know what traits will be where. We have a very 
low level of control in what traits will be combined. Inbredding and crossing 
offers more control in what traits will be in the offspring, wouldn't you 
agree? And what about HYBRID VIGOR?! Wouldn't the resulting seeds have a 
hybrid vigor that other crosses would not have?
Some other benefits might be being able to experiment with cultural methods 
better by having more genetically stable plants to use. But mainly the 
advantages seem like they would be being able to have more control in 
combining two superior sets of genetic traits into one batch of seeds, AND 
gaining "hybrid vigor". Am I wrong?


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