Whether a cultivator grows regular, photoperiod or feminized seeds depends on many factors, including cultivation experience and the purposes of their crop. Some growers choose to save seed from their own gardens.
The main reason to work with regular seeds is their genetic stability. They also offer more male plants than feminized seeds do, which is very useful when pheno hunting.
Breeding
For the grower interested in breeding and creating new strains, working with regular seeds is still the best option. These will produce male plants which can be used to pollinate female flowers and create new genetic crosses. This is the process of crossbreeding which can be extremely rewarding for the gardener that enjoys this aspect of growing cannabis.
However, this does mean that you will need to cull some male plants from your crop and this can be a time-consuming process. This may also result in some of your fertile plants being wasted. This can be a significant drain on your hydro system space, nutrients and dedicated space.
However, this is a process that has been around for a long time and many gardeners that work with regular seeds find it very rewarding and exciting. These growers are often referred to as breeders and they can be found all over the world. They are usually small family-run businesses.
Cloning
The cloning process is a natural form of reproduction that many plants, fungi, and bacteria use. It allows the organisms to spread quickly and avoid unwanted mutations, but can also result in undesirable traits being passed down to future generations.
Clones can be fragile and require a very specific growing medium that must maintain a stable temperature. This can lead to them being damaged or dying before they can root.
The other drawback is that clones don’t produce seed, so growers have to buy new mother plants each time they want to take a cutting. Additionally, clones are often treated with high levels of pesticides to keep them safe during transportation. This can cause them to accumulate these chemicals in their tissue, which can then transfer to any seeds they later produce.
Mother Plants
Mother plants are essential for the cultivation of clones, as they allow for a quicker and more streamlined harvesting process. By having a set of mother plants, growers can skip the veg cycle and jump straight to flowering. Keeping healthy mother plants is crucial to producing high-quality clones, and this means pruning/trimming them regularly and observing strict cleanliness standards.
It is also a good idea to keep your mother plant away from fungus and disease, as these can quickly kill off the cuttings you are taking from her. Mother plants are also best kept in a vegetative light cycle, as this reduces the likelihood of them turning hermaphrodites due to stress. This isn’t a problem with feminized seeds, but can be an issue with regular seeds that aren’t grown to be hermies. In fact, hermaphrodites are more likely to develop on plants that have been stressed due to temperature fluctuations. This is something to be aware of when choosing your seed strain.
Genetic Stability
Genetic stability of newly introduced traits in seed produced via plant-based transgene approaches is an important part of the regulatory assessments these products undergo prior to commercialization. This involves both genotypic and phenotypic stability.
In order to know more about genetic stability of seven promising rice entries, a research was conducted through estimating agro-morphological traits under 12 Egyptian environments. Results showed that line numbers 1, 3, and 5 exhibited the highest level of genetic stability and came in first place while lines 2, 6, and 7 were close behind them.
Genetic stability studies are important in seed production because they help to ensure that the traits will continue to be transmitted through future generations. They also provide important information to plant breeders as they look for ways to further enhance the genetic gains that they’re achieving through their breeding programs. This will help to improve the stability of the traits in the field and ensure that they continue to perform the same way under a variety of environmental conditions.