Re: hybrid vigor ?
John:
Yes, this was probably hybrid vigor. The important part to remember is
that the genes split back in the F1 crosses. As you have mentioned, not only
did you not get large pumpkins; the smaller ones were now mishapen. The thing
to remember is that when going for hybrid vigor, You mate 2 wholly unrelated
lines, with very different genes: i.e. you diversify the genes, so that when
they split back up in the next generation, you may still have unpredictable
changes. To get true to type, Hybrids like this must be grown asexually - by
vegatative propagation: cuttings, grafts, rooting shoots or runners.
The problem with hybrid vigor is that the next generation is so diverse that
often, when developing a line, the F1 generation seems to be putting you
farther back than you were before the cross. This breeding method, (followed
by back crossing & linebreeding to "fix" any desireable traits genetically)
can be very discouraging & requires a lot of patience & perserverance. The
rewards are great, but they are usually years down the line.
TerryLynn
John Failor wrote:
> With all the discussion of hybrid vigor lately I remembered a
> possible occurence of this a few years back with some C.pepos. I crossed a
> small warty gourd with a regular jack o lantern type pumpkin. The pollen
> came from the gourd plant. The next years result was a large 50-60 pound
> all orange heavily warted something or other. It was bigger than the other
> jack-o-lanterns and more warty than the other gourds. Was this an example
> of hybrid vigor? Also the seeds from this odd creation reverted back to
> either a small to medium gourd or a slightly misshapen pumpkin. From the
> discussion I have heard it sounds as though it may have been hybrid vigor.
