Month: March 2023

A seed is a reproductive organ of a plant that produces a new flowering stem. They are an important source of food, especially in animal and human diets.

A seed is made up of three basic parts: the embryo, the endosperm and the seed coat. Some seeds also have other appendages, such as raphe (ridge), wings and caruncles.

Origin

The seed is an important part of plant evolution. It is a fertilized ovule that contains an intact embryo, stored food and seed coat that can germinate into a new plant species.

It is also a major source of edible products, including cereals, nuts and legumes. It is also used for propagation in many plant species.

However, the origin of the seed remains a puzzle. There are various hypotheses based on morphological comparisons and fossil evidence.

In most monocotyledons (such as grasses and palms) and some (endospermic or albuminous) dicotyledons, the embryo is embedded in the endosperm (and nucellus). The remaining parts of the prothallus are mobilized later, during germination, to become the seed coat.

The seed trait is an evolutionary innovation that originated in plants 200 million years ago. While this trait is critical to human civilization, how it came to be remains an unresolved mystery.

Function

Seeds are a characteristic reproductive organ of both angiosperms (flowering plants) and gymnosperms. They are composed of a miniature plant embryo enclosed within a covering called the seed coat.

The seed coat is a complex organ of structure, chemical composition and metabolism that serves several functions during seed development. These include protecting the embryo and transmitting environmental cues to it.

A mature seed coat provides protection against pathogen penetration. It also enables the seed to sense and respond to its environment, as well as regulating nutrient flow toward the embryo and endosperm.

Seeds also protect the plant against transient herbivores and competition from other plants for light and nutrients. Many seeds are protected from germination by a process known as dormancy, which delays seed development for a period of time. This is useful because it allows seed dispersal at a later time when conditions are more favorable for growth.

Structure

Seeds are made of three basic parts: the seed coat, the endosperm, and the embryo. They are all necessary for the formation of a new plant, which uses the nutrients stored in them.

The seed coat is a layer of protective tissue that surrounds the endosperm and the embryo within a seed. It helps to protect the seed from damage and to retain moisture.

Many seeds have a scar on the outer surface that marks the location where the seed was attached to the ovary wall. This scar is called the hilum and it may also contain a small structure called a micropyle, which represents the end of the ovule’s micropyle.

Some seeds have additional structures such as an aril (a fleshy outgrowth from the funicle), a raphe, wings, or caruncles. Some seeds even have hairs, called trichomes, that help the seed grow.

Dispersal

The dispersal of seed is an important component of plant population dynamics. It is achieved through abiotic (wind and water) or biotic (fish, insects, reptiles and birds) mechanisms.

Unlike single-celled spores, seeds can transport nutrient materials to new sites. They also allow the spread of genetic variation, which is crucial for species survival and resilience.

Many species have evolved specialized structures or behaviors to enable them to achieve optimal seed dispersal. These include plumes for wind dispersal, barbs and attachment to animal bodies.

These structures and behaviors are often adapted to different species, habitats or life history strategies. They help plants to overcome obstacles such as competition, habitat loss and disturbances.

Seed dispersal is also a means for some species to escape environmental stress and to avoid predators and pathogens that are attracted to the parent plant. Moreover, some plants may select for dispersal because it reduces the risk of competition between parents and their offspring.

Regular seeds are the type of cannabis seed that growers use to breed their own strains. These seeds have an equal balance of male and female chromosomes.

Using regular seeds is not only an excellent way to start breeding but also a great way to develop your growing skills and discover new varieties. This is important to keep the diversity of marijuana in the world alive.

Breeding

Regular cannabis seeds are the preferred seed option for many old-school growers and those conducting their own breeding experiments. These seeds have a 50/50% chance of emerging as male or female plants, allowing breeders to create new cultivars and produce better-quality clones.

They’re also cheaper than feminized seeds and can provide the same THC-rich flowers. However, they do require a bit more work and attention from the grower, which can be a drawback for those just starting out.

Breeding is a technique that has been used since the beginning of cultivation. Sometimes it’s to create a strain with a specific phenotype or cultivar, other times it’s to improve plant traits such as yield or cannabinoid profile.

Breeding techniques can include cloning, backcrossing, and rodelization. Breeders often use backcrossing to stabilize a parent’s desired trait (such as a higher level of cannabinoid content or a particular colour).

Cloning

Cloning regular seeds is a great way to reproduce favorable traits for a plant or a strain. It’s a good option for those who want to keep the same genetics and maintain consistency in their garden, or growers who are experimenting with new strains.

To clone a regular seed, simply take a cutting from the mother plant and place it into some sort of rooting medium like starter cubes or soil. Then, apply some rooting hormone and nutrients.

It’s normal for cuttings to take a few days, but some may need a few weeks. Once the roots show, you should be able to remove them from their medium and begin growing.

It’s important to make sure you keep your cuttings properly moist and dry while they’re in their medium, especially if you’re using a humidity dome. Too much moisture will encourage mold growth, so keep an eye on your clones every day and make sure there aren’t any signs of it.

Experimentation

Regular seeds can be a great way to introduce kids to the science of growing plants. They can also be used as part of a more advanced experiment for older kids to learn about seed germination and how water affects the emergence of new leaves.

Experimentation is an important discipline in the modern day scientific method, which combines repeatable observations with deduction to answer questions about the world. The 17th century English philosopher Francis Bacon praised the practice of experimentation and wanted it to be a key component of the scientific method.

In April, researchers at Michigan State University dug up a bottle of seeds from a long-term experiment conducted by botanist William Beal in 1879. The researchers are now testing the seeds to see if they can grow almost 150 years later.

Stability

Stable seed strains have the same traits and phenotypes as their parents, and new generations of plants that are produced from them will also exhibit similar traits. Genetic stability is a long-term process that requires breeding several generations of plants to achieve consistent results.

During that process, breeders fight against inbreeding depression. They need to select and cross parents that have very similar genetic information, ensuring that no two plants have different chromosomes.

This technique is called homozygous crossing, and it produces less variations in phenotypes. However, it can lead to unpredictable results.

If a plant is unstable in this way, it will produce new seeds that don’t look much like their parents. In addition, the resulting seeds will not yield nearly as much as their first-generation counterparts.

While many seedbanks now only carry feminized seeds, Sensi Seeds still stock regular cannabis seeds. They’re a great way to try out new strains and learn more about breeding.

These seeds come from a cross between a male and female plant. It’s impossible to know if your seed will be male or female before flowering, but regular seeds will usually give you a 50% chance of getting male plants and 50% females.

They are cheaper

There are several different types of seed that can be purchased. Each type has its own benefits and disadvantages.

Among the most common types of seed are regular seeds and feminized seeds. Feminized seeds are more expensive than regular seeds, but they will provide a higher yield.

They will also be easier to breed because they are less likely to hermaphrodite. This is a major benefit for cultivators who are interested in breeding.

When buying seed, it is important to purchase a small pack first. This way, you can ensure that you are happy with the quality.

The second type of seed that is inexpensive is variety blends. These are mixes of different varieties that are often sourced from years of surplus alfalfa seed production.

These mixtures are a great deal cheaper than similar-sized bags of bird seed in the store. They usually contain a mix of millet, sunflower seed and cracked corn. However, the cheap seeds in these mixes are not as good for birds as a more expensive blend with seeds that the birds actually like to eat.

They are easier to grow

Regular seeds are easy to grow, and the germination process is quick. They do not require the use of a seed tray and are compatible with most growing systems.

They are also cheap. They can be found for less than half of the price of feminized seeds, making them an excellent choice for beginner growers.

However, if you’re looking to get the most out of your cannabis plants, then feminized seeds are a must-have. They ensure that all of your plants are female, meaning you can utilise 100% of your grow space.

Feminized seeds are also better for breeding. This means that you’ll have more clones to keep your stock going.

The sexing of cannabis plants can be an intimidating task for newbies, but with practice it becomes much easier. Using a variety of strains and mixing phenotypes will open up an entire world of marijuana breeding possibilities.

They are more stable

Regular seed is more stable than feminized seeds because they do not produce a sexless plant by default. This can be a huge advantage for some growers.

Another advantage of regular seed is that it allows you to breed your own cannabis strains. You can choose the traits you want in your new strain, including terpene profile, aroma, yield, and a balanced THC/CBD ratio.

Moreover, the genetic stability of regular seed makes it easier to clone and take cuttings. This is a great way to create new, uncharted phenotypes that can be bred again and again until you find the perfect mix.

Many outdoor growers also choose regular seed as it is easier to cross and re-introduce the plants that they have found in nature. This is often a way of re-establishing cannabis in areas where it has been removed from the wild. The process is incredibly exciting for the experimental gardener!

They are easier to breed

Regular seed contains a balance of male and female chromosomes, which makes it easier to breed cannabis plants. This is especially true if you’re looking to back cross and produce a new generation of cultivars.

In contrast, feminized seeds only contain female chromosomes and are much less likely to provide robust descendants. Feminized seeds are also more expensive, as they require more effort to make and maintain.

Despite these limitations, there are still plenty of advantages to breeding with regular seed. First and foremost, you’ll be able to enjoy the thrill of discovering a new genotype that expresses a strain you created.

Breeding with regular seed is also a great way to experiment with different terpene profiles, indica/sativa traits, and flower styles. It’s a fun and exciting journey that can lead to the creation of some truly innovative cannabis strains. It’s also a good way to learn how to grow and maintain a high-quality marijuana plant.