Month: September 2023

Seed is a mature ovule with a miniature undeveloped plant and stored food inside wrapped in a protective coat. Any living seed can grow into a new plant given the right conditions.

Before planting seeds, read the packet for specific germination requirements. For example, some seeds require cold temperatures to break down storage material and absorb oxygen.

Dispersal

Seeds are how plants reproduce and grow more of themselves. But they have to get around to new places to do so – this is called dispersal. Seeds that travel further away from the parent plant are more likely to find suitable growing conditions and avoid competition with siblings for resources like water, light and nutrients.

Some seeds are equipped to travel by wind, such as tiny dandelion seeds and maple “whirlybirds.” Others are buoyant, like lily pads or the spores of water hyacinths.

Other seeds are adapted to travel on the outside or inside of animals. These are known as abiotic or vector modes of dispersal. Examples include peas, gorse and flax. Their pods dry out when they’re ripe, causing them to explode and scatter their seeds. Other seeds, such as those of wood cranesbill and common dog violet, have hooks or barbs that make them stick to animal fur. The animal then brushes against other plants or surfaces, depositing the seeds where they land.

Dormancy

Dormancy is any period of inactivity, such as hibernation for an endothermic animal or the sluggishness of seeds over the winter. The term is also used to describe a particular state of inactivity induced by an environmental condition, such as an unfavorable season or drought.

Most species have an innate dormancy that coincides with a cold or dry period, such as the winter buds of many woody trees. Some annual weeds, such as groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), and chickenweed (Cerastim spp.), exhibit a similar imposed dormancy. In both cases, the underlying dormancy is controlled by a gene called DOG1 that is modulated by ABA [99].

In general, environmental conditions influence seed dormancy in both the long and short term. For example, sustained climatic differences produce inheritable dormancy differences within populations; while temperature and water stress during seed maturation and storage decrease dormancy in most species. Breeding for low levels of dormancy has therefore become a desirable objective for some crop improvement programs.

Germination

Seed germination is when the embryo inside the seed breaks free of its protective outer layer and grows into a green, living plant. Once it begins growing, the seed will need water, sunlight, and food to grow. It will start by absorbing water through the surface of its coat, which is called imbibition. This process softens and hydrates the seed, making it much larger. It then produces its first root, called the radicle, which will seek out water and minerals to send to the embryo.

Water is essential for germination because it provides hydration, dissolved oxygen, and it softens the seed coats so that the embryo can sprout. It also helps the radicle and roots break through the seedcoats so that they can grow out into the soil. It can help seeds germinate faster if they are pre-soaked in water overnight, but it is important to only soak them until they swell up, or they will rot.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity of seed is an important consideration for restoration practitioners. The availability of broad functional trait variation in seed banks can support a wide range of ecosystem services provided by the restored species [40].

Increasingly, the demand for seeds to restore degraded ecosystems has been outpacing the supply. Seed can be conserved on-site in farmers’ fields, referred to as in situ conservation, or off-site in seed banks (either cold storage of living plants or tissue, DNA, embryos or pollen stored in vitro).

Some seed bank programs are specifically focused on conserving agricultural and forestry species, while others conserve wild plant species as well. A new trend is to develop seed banks that have a broad mandate to support restoration as well. One example is the New Zealand Indigenous Flora Seed Bank which collects myrtle seeds to preserve genetic diversity against myrtle rust disease. Another example is the Seed Savers Exchange in Winneshiek County, Iowa, which stewards and shares open-pollinated seed varieties of plants for food security.

If you’re a grower looking to expand your genetic options, regular seed is an excellent choice. Although often overlooked by modern growers, regular seeds can offer many unique phenotypes that are impossible to replicate with feminized seeds.

Regular seeds work just how nature intended, with a 50% chance of emerging as either male or female plants. They are also less prone to hermaphroditism caused by stress from techniques like topping, fimming, and lollypopping.

Cost

Regular seed is essential for breeding cannabis, preserving genetic stability and opening the door to new strains and combinations of genotypes. This process also enables phenotype variation, allowing growers to cultivate plants with distinct flavors, aromas, and effects.

The cost of regular seed is determined by its seed quality, which varies between different breeders and seed banks. Often, higher-quality seeds have more desirable traits and are more expensive than lower-quality seeds. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the best seeds are always the most expensive.

Growing a crop with regular seeds requires the grower to sex each plant during the growing phase and remove any male plants before they produce pollen. This can be a time-consuming process, but it is essential for successful cultivation. Having a predominately female crop is easier to manage and improves the yield and quality of the buds. A predominantly female crop will also reduce the risk of hermaphrodite plants, which can ruin the entire harvest.

Genetics

Regular seeds are a great option for first-time growers as they do not produce hermaphrodite plants. They are also less prone to stress during the growing process. The plant will also be stronger and more resilient. Additionally, you can avoid the risk of wasting space and nutrient resources in your growing area by removing hermaphrodite plants early on.

Genetic factors with direct effects on seed size are likely to contribute to natural variation in these traits, but it is not clear how these genes interact with other determinants of seed quality. To better understand this interaction, we performed a QTL mapping analysis with multiple parents. This approach revealed that QTL for seed size and seed number do not overlap and are distinct.

For growers, regular seed offers the opportunity to work on breeding projects and cultivate a wide range of potent strains with unique terpene profiles. This type of seed is especially useful for those who want to develop their own strains and cultivate cuttings.

Pollination

A plant produces seeds for future generations by transferring the genetic information in the flower’s pollen to another flower of the same species. This process is called cross-pollination. Whether this process is successful depends on the ability of a flower to attract animals that transfer pollen from one flower to another. These animals are referred to as “pollinators.”

In a successful cross-pollination, a sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell in the flower’s ovule. This process is also known as double fertilization. The resulting seed combines the hereditary characteristics of both parent flowers and produces offspring with new, unique traits that are better adapted to the environment in which the plant grows.

In order to facilitate pollination, flowers have male and female reproductive organs and produce a sticky substance that helps the pollen to adhere to animal fur or feathers. Flowers can also be shaped to attract specific types of pollinators, such as bumble bees for birch or hummingbirds for conifers. In addition, some plants are wind-pollinated.

Yield

The yield of regular seed is determined by the proportion of male to female plants that sprout. This ratio varies from batch to batch, but on average it is 50/50. As a result, you can expect an ideal yield when growing these seeds, provided that you remove the male plants before they produce pollen.

If you do not eliminate male plants before they pollinate, you will end up with far lower yields. This is because the male plants will consume all of your plants’ resources and energy, leaving them with little to no energy left for producing buds.

Despite the challenge of identifying and removing male plants, growers and breeders enjoy working with regular cannabis seeds. This is because they offer the potential for phenotype variation, and they preserve genetic stability. This is vital for breeders who are looking to develop new strains. These stable genetics also ensure that the desirable traits are passed on to subsequent generations of offspring.

Since the emergence of feminized seeds, regular seed has been overlooked by many growers. However, these untampered seeds can offer unique opportunities for genetic exploration and cultivation.

Growing regular seed requires identifying and removing male plants to prevent unwanted pollination of female buds. This process can be tedious, but it is essential to a high-quality crop.

Stable Genetics

Stable genetics is the foundation of providing growers with consistent crop production. However, creating stable genetics requires rigorous breeding over multiple generations. The process is time consuming and requires substantial space to produce many generations of seeds.

To stabilise a strain, breeders start with a mother plant that possesses desirable characteristics they want to be prominent in their cultivar. This mother plant is then crossed with a father that also has desirable characteristics. Over several generations, breeders weed out the less desirable traits and only allow desired traits to express. This process is called selective breeding, and it can take up to 12 generations to create robust stability.

Genes that code for certain characteristics can present in two forms, known as alleles. For example, a gene that codes for earthy flavour can appear in either form (earthy or diesel) depending on the genetic makeup of its parents. When these alleles are combined, it creates the phenotype of a cannabis plant.

Breeding Potential

Regular seeds offer an exciting breeding opportunity for experienced growers. They have the potential to produce male and hermaphrodite plants, which can be beneficial for those seeking genetic variation in their cultivation. However, it is important to keep in mind that they have a higher chance of producing hermaphrodite plants than feminized seeds.

Hermaphroditic plants possess both male and female reproductive organs, so they can pollinate other cannabis plants. This unwanted pollination can reduce flower production and quality. Therefore, it is important to monitor your plants and remove hermaphroditic individuals when necessary.

As with all seed strains, regular cannabis plants require optimal growing conditions. The temperature, humidity, light cycles, and airflow all impact the health of your plants. The right growing environment will help your plants reach their full potential and maximize germination rates, yields, and flowering times. It will also help you avoid problems such as mold, mildew, and other pests. It is important to provide your plants with adequate water and nutrients to maintain a healthy growing environment.

Phenotype Variation

For cultivators who are interested in creating their own strains, regular seeds offer the possibility of phenotype variation. These seeds are the result of a natural, unaltered cultivation process and are more likely to contain male plants than feminized seeds. However, they can be sexed to remove the male plants and guarantee the production of only female plants.

Seed yield is a complex trait that is influenced by numerous genetic and environmental factors. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between seed yield and its related traits in 210 uniculm accessions and 159 branching accessions. We found that PSY was positively and significantly correlated with CNP, CSL, PH, TSW, and FFS. These results suggest that increasing PH, CSL, TSW, and IFS could improve PSY. Moreover, the correlation between PSY and cone trait values also supports the hypothesis that more cones are associated with higher seed yield. This information can help breeders develop new strains with desired characteristics.

Cost

In general, regular cannabis seeds are less expensive than feminized varieties. However, this price difference can depend on strain desirability and seed quality.

Growers choose regular seeds because they can produce a mixture of male and female plants, and they can create new phenotypes by crossing different strains. This breeding process is critical for the growth of new cultivars and maintaining consistency in existing ones.

While feminized seeds are genetically guaranteed to produce only female plants, there is always the chance that a hermaphrodite plant may be produced. Hermaphrodites contain both male and female reproductive organs, and if hermaphroditic plants are not removed, they can pollinate other female plants in the crop.

Feminized plants require special care to prevent hermaphrodites, such as limiting pruning techniques like topping, fimming, and lollypopping. This additional level of maintenance can increase the cost of feminized seeds.