Month: July 2023

Seeds are the primary means by which most angiosperm (flowering) plants disseminate their offspring. They contain a reserve supply of food that gives the new plant an excellent start in life.

While extensive studies of “model” plants like Arabidopsis have revealed many genes involved in ovule and seed development, much remains unknown about the genetic control of seed structure and growth in non-model plant groups.

Definition

A seed is a mature fertilized plant ovule with an embryo enclosed in a protective seed coat. It is the principal means by which angiosperm plants disseminate offspring. Seeds are also the source of many important crops, such as grains and legumes, which provide food for people and animals. Seeds are also the source of cooking oils and spices, and they are an important source of protein in diets.

Other meanings:

[1]in the field of botany, agriculture and horticulture, a vegetative or reproductive plant part that contains an embryo under a dormant state and can develop into a new plant if it is sown. This term is sometimes used more generally to describe any living organ of a crop in rudimentary form that is used for propagation.

In the verb senses, seed is often used figuratively to mean the starting point for something: The idea was seeded in my mind by an article I read. It is also used to arrange the drawings for positions in a tournament so that superior players or teams will not meet in early rounds of play: to seed (a tournament).

Functions

Seeds serve several functions for the plants that produce them. Key among them are nourishment of the embryo, dispersal to a new location and dormancy during unfavorable conditions.

Most seeds have a protective outer covering known as a seed coat. This can be as thin as a coconut shell or very hard like that of a pine tree. It also has an opening called the micropyle or hilum and a ridge or groove on its surface called the raphe.

The raphe provides a way for water to enter the seed during germination. The permeability of the seed coat and the amount of water available determine how fast the embryo imbibes water and initiates germination.

Physiological dormancy, which is the natural state of most seeds, delays germination until environmental conditions are optimal. This function helps to safeguard the seeds from a catastrophe like cold weather or herbivory that could wipe out all of an embryonic plant population.

Structure

Seeds store the genetic information needed for a plant to grow and produce more seeds. They are protected by a shell or husk and they contain a reserve of food to sustain the embryo until conditions are right for growth (dormancy).

A seed is made up of three parts: an embryo, endosperm, and a seed coat. The embryo is fertilized ovule that has the potential to give rise to a new plant under favorable conditions. The endosperm is a nutritious tissue that is derived from the integument of the ovary or fruit wall. The seed coat is a hard protective covering that can help seeds survive for long periods of time.

The cotyledons, or seed leaves, are attached to the embryonic axis, either one (Monocotyledons) or two in dicots. The area above the point of attachment of the cotyledons is called the epicotyl and ends in an apical meristem, which will become the shoot of the plant upon germination.

Dispersal

Plants need to disperse their seeds so that they do not grow too close and compete for water, light and nutrients. Seeds are dispersed by wind, animals or water.

Many plants produce edible fruits and nuts that act as containers for their seeds. These seeds are then hitchhiked on the backs of birds, mammals and other animals, and are carried to distant locations by the animal’s movements. The seeds have hard coatings that prevent them from being digested, and hooks and barbs which cling to fur or feathers or the hair of animals.

Other seeds are dispersed by wind. Some seeds have wings that allow them to fly, while others are propelled by the force of air currents. For seeds that are wind-dispersed, the distance they travel is influenced by landscape features and weather conditions. Seeds that are dispersed far away from the parent plant have higher germination rates because they do not suffer competition with parents or siblings, avoid exposure to pathogens and predators, and have better opportunities to colonise new habitats.

For a long time regular seeds were the only type of cannabis seeds available. Unlike feminized or autoflowering seeds, regular seeds do not contain any male chromosomes.

When grown, regular seeds have a 50% chance of emerging as either male or female plants. This is how nature intended, and it allows breeders to create new cultivars through cross-pollination.

Breeding

Regular seeds are a must-have for any cannabis breeder. Without them, growers can’t make clones that are true to strain or create a new cultivar. Clones can be a great way to preserve the flavour, morphology, and colour of a specific specimen.

When growing regular seeds, there’s a 50% chance that each plant will be male or female. This is a big reason why many gardeners prefer to plant feminized seeds. They don’t want to deal with the hassle of having to cull male plants at harvest time.

Feminized seed varieties also give rise to more consistent phenotypes. As a result, some growers choose to cross feminized plants with regular seeds to produce stable, uniform crops. This process is called back crossing. It gives rise to a hybrid strain with improved genetics, but it’s important to note that the resulting phenotypes might still vary. This is why many breeders stick to feminized seeds when it comes to commercial cultivation.

Cloning

Cloning regular seeds enables growers to duplicate an exact genetic copy of a particular specimen. This can be helpful if you have a strain that produces the terpenes and flavours that you love or a particular morphology that you admire.

It’s important to note that clones are generally more difficult to take than seedlings. They require a high level of humidity and are best kept in a dome (a plant propagator is the ideal accessory for this purpose).

The good news is that clones will often root well when they’re taken from healthy, mature plants. This means that you can keep the mother plants of your favourite strains and create a continuous harvest of your most potent, flavourful buds. Alternatively, you can buy a pack of feminized seeds and avoid having to deal with male plants altogether. This isn’t an exact science, however, and it is common to find a few male plants in any given batch of seeds.

Pollination

In nature and in plant breeding, seeds can only be produced if pollen from the male anther of one flower is transferred to the stigma of another flower. This transfer is called pollination and it can be facilitated by animals or wind.

The transfer of pollen between flowers takes place when the anther cells of a male flower rub against, drop on, or stick to a “pollinator.” The pollinator then moves from flower to flower, depositing pollen where it can be absorbed by the stigma. Fertilization then occurs, and the ovule develops into a seed capsule.

Growers and breeders interested in crossing regular seeds must carefully separate males from female plants to control the pollination process and ensure that they produce only female seeds. This is often easier said than done, since males mature about two weeks earlier than females. Depending on the growing method used, breeders may collect male pollen and cold-store it before applying it to female plants with a brush or their fingers.

Genetics

Regular seeds are used by growers who wish to cross strains to create new phenotypes. This is because they have both male and female chromosomes (XX) in their genome, whereas feminized seeds have been genetically modified to produce only female plants. When grown from regular seeds, growers can expect to have a 50% female/male ratio of offspring, but this can vary depending on luck and environmental conditions.

Ultimately, while most growers prefer feminized cannabis seeds, there are still a number of advantages to using regular seeds. They offer more genetic diversity, which can be useful for creating new strains with specific traits such as flavour profiles, morphology, or colours. They also allow for cloning, which is vital to the process of growing cannabis, and they are cheaper than feminized seed. However, it is important to keep in mind that regular seeds are not as effective at preventing the growth of male plants, and therefore may require more frequent culling.

A lot of cultivators choose regular seeds because they allow for more genetic variation. They also are less prone to hermaphroditism than feminized strains.

To germinate your cannabis seeds, place them on a folded paper towel and add some bottled water. Then place them in a dark area until they sprout and have a healthy taproot.

Breeding

With regular seeds, growers have the opportunity to produce a crop that is more robust than feminized varieties. This is because regular seeds do not undergo any type of artificial breeding process that stresses the female plants and can cause them to become sterile. This type of seed also offers more genetic variation than feminized seeds, and you can discover new phenotypes by crossing different varieties together.

In addition, growing regular seeds is more cost-effective than feminized varieties. When you plant feminized seeds, you have to spend extra time and energy eliminating male plants or preparing the plants to be crossed with another desired parent. This can result in a waste of water and nutrients that could have been used to produce more buds. With regular seeds, you can avoid this hassle and focus more of your efforts on achieving the ideal yield. This will ensure that you get more for your money.

Cloning

In some cases, growers want to preserve a strain’s genetic lineage. This can be done using clones or seeds. The advantage of clones is that they are guaranteed to produce female plants and can reduce the cost of cultivation. However, they may have lower yields than plants grown from seeds. This is because clones are often weakened by the stress of being cut and may produce weaker taproots.

Cloning is the process of taking cuttings from a mother plant and placing them in a nutrient-rich growing medium. This is a great way to ensure that your clones are healthy and ready for transplanting when the time comes. The growing medium should also be filled with a rooting hormone to help the clippings establish in your environment faster. It is also recommended that you provide your clones with an 18-hour light cycle to optimize their growth.

Varieties

Regular seeds are less expensive than feminized varieties, and they have the advantage of offering growers the chance to select robust female plants that will produce high yields. They also have the advantage of requiring sexing, which can be easier than cloning. However, there are some disadvantages to growing regular cannabis plants. For example, they can take longer to harvest than feminized strains.

They also have a 50% chance of spawning male plants, which can be removed manually. This can be time consuming and expensive.

Feminized seeds are a popular choice for growers, as they offer more control over the plant population. They are also useful for breeders who want to create new cultivars. However, many experienced growers prefer to use regular seeds for their own breeding purposes. They provide more genetic variation and allow for the discovery of phenotypes that would be difficult to reproduce with feminized plants.

Price

As one of the most popular marijuana seed categories, regular seeds offer some of the best bang for your buck. However, it’s important to choose a trusted seed bank to avoid scams and other pitfalls. A reputable seed company will keep your money and identity safe when transacting business online.

If you’re an experienced grower, regular seeds can deliver superb crops. They are also the preferred choice for breeders, as they can produce both male and female plants. However, it’s a good idea to separate the males from the females early into flowering to prevent them from fertilizing the buds.

Dutch Passion’s collection of regular cannabis seeds includes classic strains from the 1980s and earlier. These old-school genetics offer powerful effects that are deeply enjoyable. Their sativa cultivars like Amnesia Lemon bring citrus aromas of lemon, orange, and tangerines. Its potent indica traits relax the body and mind with a deep sense of well-being. Their cannabis plants are robust and reliable, with high-yielding harvests.