Re: F1 Hybrid question revisited

In a message dated 1/31/99 12:57:30 PM Eastern Standard Time,
neps@mindspring.com writes:

<< om: Mike and Carolyn <neps@mindspring.com>
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 If you take two AG pumpkin plants of unknown origin, pollinate the
 female flower of one with the male flower of the other, can the
 resulting offspring of the female be accurately classified as an F1
 hybrid? If not, why not?
 
 Mike
  >>
Mike,
   Anything is possible, but it is highly unlikely. The two lines that will be
eventually crossed are inbred to purify the lines genetically. It is important
, that the 2 lines to be crossed should display consistant traits in over 90%
of the observed offspring...95% would be better. Heterosis, or hybrid vigor,
is not the only thing that a breeder is looking for. It could be disease
resistance, color ,size or other traits. Commercial growers commonly use
hybrids because they can rely on a consistant end product. The only way to get
a consistant specimen is to clean it up genetically through inbreeding and
selecting. As you know, with most Atlantic Giants, there is a wide range of
pumpkin types that can come from seeds of the same parent. You could plant 5
seeds out of a pumpkin and see 3 different types of offspring. That's what
makes giant pumpkin growing a big crap shoot.
                                                    pumkinguy
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