Re: Hybrid Vigor
Mike;
Thanks for putting the link to that page up. Both of those pages are
invaluable to someone who is trying to make seed crosses of significant value.
Yours is much better than mine LMAO}!
There is only one issue I'd like to debate. After re reading the primer you
wrote, I see why you made a posting on my hybrid vigor comments...LOL! I'd
like to hear why you might disagree with the idea that combining isolated
genetics might play into possibly getting larger fruit from such offspring.
You wrote...
"It most be noted however, that hybrid vigor does not always manifest itself
in larger fruit. It could also mean a more aggressive plant, better disease
resistance, or greater seed production. To summarize, hybrid vigor may be
difficult (or impossible) to achieve.
Seeing the cross made to create the 745/723 genetic, and the 846 genetic, I
thought the resulting large fruit created from those strains was an example of
"hybrid vigor". Is my thinking off based here, or perhaps are those an example
of a true "larger fruit" hybrid vigorous cross? Please explain what your
theory is on what makes those exhibit the 'larger fruit' trait that apparently
comes from most of those seeds. I do agree when you say...
"It most be noted however, that hybrid vigor does not always manifest itself
in larger fruit."
I would agree that there is no doubt about that fact. I'm just asking if you
think that hybrid vigor sometimes DOES manifest itself in larger fruit such as
in the Bobier /Calai genetics. I just believe occasional vigor can be created
which produces larger fruits from its offspring. It is also my belief there
are some [few....very few] seed genetics that can be crosses together which
have a good probability to do that. The ones I mentioned in my earlier posting
were the ones I feel are possible candidates. I better also state for the
record, that crossing certain isolated genetics together will result in large
fruit vigor often, but I think it's something worth experimenting on to find
out.
Marc
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HYBRID VIGOR: URBAN LEGEND?
Hybrid Vigor is a term that always seems to come up when discussing AG
breeding. What is it? By definition, hybrid vigor is the increase in growth,
yield, or other characters in hybrids over those of the parents. This effect
is achieved by crossing two stable, independent varieties and growing the
seeds of the offspring. Is this possible in AGs? To prove this theory, we
would have to develop and stabilize at least two distinct varieties (through
generations of self or sibbed pollination) and cross these. How many
generations does it take to establish a variety? Good question. There are very
few pumpkins in the AGGC database that would qualify. Harry Willemse has a
couple that could provide a good starting point. Andy Wolf's 291 is also a
good example. It most be noted however, that hybrid vigor does not always
manifest itself in larger fruit. It could also mean a more aggressive plant,
better disease resistance, or greater seed production. To summarize, hybrid
vigor may be difficult (or impossible) to achieve. Even if successful, it does
not guarantee a bigger pumpkin.
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