Comments on: Hybrid Vigor

By: Marshall Smyth

Marshall Smyth — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:40:55 +0000

Hybrid vigor can continue for more than the first finial generation. That very special first generation has the dominant and recessive genes put together so that those dominant genes get expressed over their recessive counterparts everywhere, and the codominant genes and gene sets play their music in the hybrid in ways that surprise the breeder. You even notice other kinds of sub dominance or sub recessive traits. But the offspring of that first generation give new variations of the hybrid’s theme! This is where the breeder’s selections become suddenly strong. 1+1=Lots of things! If one of the original parents had one kind of growing vigor, and the other parent had another kind of growing vigor, wow. 1+1 can equal something like a lot more than 2. Yep, some of the others can get neither parent’s vigor. I know about that happening. I truly do hope you are breeding plants in your own personal garden, and growing the succeeding selected generations. Sometimes the impossible happens, and a chromosome breaks, giving a plant with pairs of traits that don’t go together. I sure hope my truly determinate potato leaf tomato plant, with terminating racemes of flowers isn’t going to be sterile. 12+12 can equal 25 or 26, depending on when the chromosome broke. It could be a handy trait for automated picking machines, or for growing at home with the cages 30″ high. There they are, right at your waist, most of them all at once. I find that vigor is different with each cross. Cosmos don’t show hybrid vigor, but they combine traits very beautifully.

By: Pat Crane

Pat Crane — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:10:10 +0000

Your message is very thought provoking and has an interesting viewpoint. I am with you as hoping the new, seemingly far seeing president leads us to a new better time.

By: James Golden

James Golden — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:53:02 +0000

Lincoln had a hard time with all sides, even his friends. His strength of character, understanding of others, and sense of timing were masterful (at least as presented by Doris Kearns Goodwin). Let’s hope Obama can take the heat, and make judgments that are up to the challenges our world faces. I’m trying to relate this to hybrid vigor, but seem to be moving toward a mixed metaphor…

By: Ruth Ann Schmitt

Ruth Ann Schmitt — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:01:10 +0000

Beautifully said!

By: Lisa Colburn

Lisa Colburn — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:02:30 +0000

How creative that you compare plants to dogs and people. It would do us all some good to be able to view life in such an abstract way. The ability to view things in many shades of gray instead of black and white is the sign of an intelligent and healthy individual. You are not only a plantsman, you are also an artist!
Best regards,
Lisa

By: PAULA

PAULA — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:06:06 +0000

Wonderful commentary, I wish the President well and hope he may fulfill his dreams for this nation.

By: Corinne Applegate

Corinne Applegate — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:03:23 +0000

Especially great job on this one, George.

By: George

George — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:19:50 +0000

Mark – Thanks. I try to interweave gardenesque musings with pure plant articles. That’s the point of the term “silva rerum”. The last 10 posts have been mostly related to plants, directly or indirectly. But I hear you, and will focus on plants especially as the season gets underway. Thanks again.

By: mark andrews

mark andrews — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:18:40 +0000

from a gardening perspective,,,, i didn’t read anything in this blog that talked much about plant hybrids….. mostly about people hybrids…. isn’t this a gardening website???

By: Jenny Sawyer

Jenny Sawyer — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:13:04 +0000

Your writing is a delight for the eyes and senses as is planning for gardens, scents and color when deep snows have finally melted into the ground…winter is indeed a fine time for thoughtful writing…