Month: July 2023

Seed is the primary means by which plants disseminate themselves and produce offspring. They contain an embryo and food reserves in a protective covering.

Gardeners can use various containers to start seeds, such as flats, trays, and cell packs. Previously used milk cartons and plastic jugs can also be used, as can paper cups and egg cartons. Some species of seeds require scarification, which breaks chemical dormancy and encourages germination. Stratification (moist chilling) is another method that can be used.

Definition

In botany, seed refers to an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering. Seeds are the primary means by which flowering plants disseminate their offspring and they are also the main way that grasses and grains propagate themselves. Seeds are surrounded by a food reserve called the endosperm, a stem known as the cotyledon and a hard husk or seed coat. A scar on the seed coat known as the hilum marks the spot where the seed attaches to its parent plant’s ovary.

Seeds are mainly used as a source of food, especially cereals, legumes, nuts and oils. They also provide the proteins that give bread its texture. In the Bible, the term “seed” is sometimes used in a more general sense of descendants; e.g., in Genesis 1:18; Ezekiel 33:29. In such cases, the word is derived from the Hebrew word zera, which can mean either descendant or offspring. It is not to be confused with the rabbinical term for offspring, which is tamim.

Origin

The evolution of the seed was a crucial step for the rapid expansion of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants. The seed habit, together with a range of other characteristics such as enhanced sporophyte and reduced gametophyte, allowed these plant groups to rapidly dominate the terrestrial flora.

A seed is a fertilized ovule enclosed in a protective tissue called the endosperm. Most seeds contain one cotyledon in monocots, two in dicots, and three or more in gymnosperms. The cotyledon is the first leaves to emerge from the seedling, and it is pressed closely against the endosperm to absorb food for growth.

Most seeds are dispersed by birds, mammals, and other animals. They can also be carried by water or wind. Seeds are the source of many medicines including the quack cancer drug laetrile, tea tree oil, and castor oil. They are also the main source of vegetable oils, cereals, nuts and legumes, and important food additives such as gluten.

Function

Seeds are an important part of the reproductive system of flowering plants. They contain the embryo of a new plant along with a reserve of food for its early development after germination. They are encased in a protective outer covering called a testa.

Seed dispersal is essential for the survival of plant species. If plant species grow too closely together they compete for light, water and nutrients in the soil. Seeds allow plants to move to different locations where they can get the resources they need without competing with other plants for these resources.

Seeds are well adapted for dispersal by animals, wind or water. Floating seeds can travel long distances and are especially useful for spreading plants that thrive in aquatic environments, such as mangrove trees. Seeds also have features to withstand harsh temperature and moisture conditions, such as a hard seed coat, cotyledons and endosperm. The seed also has an opening, known as the hilum and micropyle, that allows water to enter during germination.

Growth

Seeds contain all the things a new plant needs to begin growing. Inside each seed is an embryonic (baby) plant and a food supply. As a seed absorbs water, its embryo grows and its food supply breaks down to provide energy for the growing embryo. Then the embryonic root (radicle) pushes through the seed’s covering layers. Eventually, the cotyledons — the first leaves of the plant — form.

Scientists still don’t fully understand all the processes that take place during seed germination. However, they do know that the embryo in a seed swells up when it soaks up water and produces enzymes to help speed up its growth and germination.

Some seeds need the right temperature to germinate, and others need a certain amount of sunlight to grow and produce their own food. Gardeners and horticulturists try to break the physiological dormancy of many seeds by gradually exposing them to day and night temperatures, wind, moisture, air movement, and light.

Unlike feminized seeds, regular seeds will rarely produce hermaphrodite plants. This is an important distinction because hermaphrodite plants can produce male flowers and pollen, which can cause unwanted cross-pollination.

Additionally, growers that want to use cuttings or clones will find that they can better manage their female plants when using regular seeds. They also tend to tolerate stress better than feminized seeds.

They’re non-feminized

Regular seeds do not contain female chromosomes, and they can produce male or female plants. This means that they can be more prone to stress throughout the growing process. However, they also offer the potential to create unique phenotypes that are not available from feminized seed strains.

Growers can use regular seeds to create their own clones, which are ideal for breeding purposes. They do not undergo the same genetic tampering as feminized seeds, so they’re more likely to produce robust plants.

Feminized seeds, on the other hand, are engineered to produce only female plants. They’re great for commercial growers who want to ensure a high percentage of female plants in their crop. However, feminized seeds can also produce hermaphroditic plants that have both male and female reproductive organs.

They’re more affordable

Due to their lower production costs, regular seeds are typically much cheaper than feminized ones. This makes them a great option for growers on a budget.

As long as the growing conditions are optimal, growers can expect a good harvest with regular seeds. They also have a better chance of cultivating desirable traits for breeding. However, they must carefully monitor the growth process to ensure that no hermaphroditic plants are produced.

Feminized seeds are ideal for large-scale growers who need a specific ratio of female and male plants in their crop. The absence of male plants reduces the risk of pollination, and a predominately female crop means higher yields and better quality buds. However, the seedlings can take longer to develop, and you must change the light cycle when growing them indoors.

They’re easier to germinate

Regular seeds are often recommended for beginner growers since they’re easier to germinate. They also require less light and tend to produce a bigger harvest. However, it’s important to note that they need more attention than feminized seeds.

A typical batch of 10 regular cannabis seeds should produce a 50/50 ratio of male and female plants. This is because the sex of each plant depends on a number of factors, including growth pattern, development of the leaves and stems, aroma, resistance to pests, terpene profile, THC/CBD ratio, and more.

A predominately female crop makes it much easier to manage a garden and can help you achieve better yields and quality. This is especially useful if you want to harvest a specific time of year.

They’re more resistant to pests

Regular cannabis seeds are more resistant to pests than feminized seeds. This is due to their genetics, which contain a higher number of THC-producing male plants. This can help them outcompete feminized plants and produce a larger yield.

Feminized seeds are often used by experienced growers who want to try their hand at breeding. However, there are a few risks associated with this process, including hermaphroditism and a limited gene pool.

Additionally, growing feminized seeds can be expensive. It is important to remember that regular seeds are less expensive, which makes them a better choice for novices and first-time growers. They are also easier to germinate and can be a great option for those with limited space. In addition, they have a wider range of virus resistance genes.

They’re easier to breed

A big part of why growers love regular seeds is that they’re much easier to breed. This means that they can create new strains by combining different phenotypes. This can lead to a variety of unique and exciting cannabis varieties.

Another benefit of using regular seeds is that it’s possible to clone your plants. This is a great way to duplicate the flavour, aroma, and effects of a specific plant.

This is especially useful for those who are looking to try out classic strains that don’t have feminized seeds available. It can save growers time and money by eliminating the need to sex their plants. This process can be a pain, and can also waste a lot of water, nutrients, and growing space. With regular seeds, these problems are avoided.

The relatively recent developments of feminized and autoflowering seeds get all the attention, but there is still much to love about regular seed. For one, they give you the chance to cook up some exciting crossbreeds.

Growers working with regular seeds have to account for the fact that half their plants could be males, which reduces yield. They can also be more challenging to work with.

Breeding

While feminized seeds are perfect for commercial growers that want a guaranteed ratio of female to male plants, many home growers choose to plant regular seed because of their ability to produce sex of either gender. Regular seeds are the way to go if you’re an advocate of organic growing and would rather let nature take its course, as well as if you’d like to try your hand at breeding.

You can experiment with a variety of strains by crossing them to create unique cultivars. Mixing an indica and sativa strain, for example, may lead to a more balanced cultivar with a quicker flowering time or even differing terpene profiles.

However, you’ll need to be able to distinguish between the male and female plants and remove them promptly to avoid hermaphroditism. This can be done by observing the plant’s pre-flowering stages to see its sex, or by using a simple reverse pollen method. It’s important to keep in mind that a male plant is needed to achieve any cross-breeding plans, as it will provide the genetic lineage to the next generation of cannabis.

Cloning

There are a few things to consider when growing regular seeds or clones. Clones are exact copies of their mother plant, which is a big advantage if you want to produce a large harvest in a short amount of time. They can also suffer from problems caused by their mothers (such as powdery mildew) or from contaminants in the soil, so if you are working with clones it is important to keep them quarantined for a few days or weeks before introducing them into your garden.

Another benefit to cloning is that it avoids the need to wait for seeds to germinate and grow into seedlings. However, germination is an important skill that many experienced growers feel is better learned from scratch. Seeds also offer a chance to experiment with phenotypes and can bring in unique characteristics that you cannot duplicate with clones. For example, some growers find that growing from seeds leads to plants with longer, heavier buds.

Pollination

Pollination is an essential part of the plant reproduction process. It occurs when pollen from a male flower’s anthers rubs or drops onto a female flower’s stigma, fertilizing it and producing seeds. Pollen is released through two tiny pores in a flower’s anthers. Bees bite the anthers and buzz to shake them loose, releasing thousands of pollen grains in under a second.

Other plants rely on insect pollinators, such as tomatoes, strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, almonds and many other fruits and vegetables. Many seed savers grow varieties that bloom at different times to prevent unwanted cross-pollination.

To hand-pollinate a cannabis plant, simply apply pollen from a male flower with a cotton ball or brush to the anther of a female cannabis plant and wait three days until she flowers. A good indicator that a female has been pollinated is the bracts on her buds becoming larger. They should then swell and become a darker color, as this indicates they have been fertilized.

Seed Saving

Saving seeds is a practice that has been around for thousands of years. Indigenous societies and early farmers stewarded their food systems by collecting, saving and planting seeds season after season.

The benefits of seed saving are multifaceted. It’s a way to ensure gardeners have access to traditional varieties, decrease reliance on large corporations and their inconsistent supply chains, and support community connections through events like seed swaps.

The process is relatively simple, but it does require some skill. Knowing which plants will cross-pollinate is key to success. Annual plants that set seed and die in a single growing season are easy to save, while perennials like kale, carrots and onions need two growing seasons to produce seeds. Harvesting wet seed (such as from tomatoes, eggplants and cucumbers) requires careful timing so that the seeds are mature enough to be eaten. The seeds must be removed from the wet pulp or gelatinous coating, and dried thoroughly.