Month: September 2023

Regular seeds are the best option for growers who want to breed their own strains. They offer excellent performance and are ideal for mother plants due to their hearty nature.

They also allow growers to access genetics that never made it into the feminized market. This article explains the main reasons why we at Sensi Seeds still produce and sell regular seeds.

Genetic Stability

Regular seeds offer genetic stability, preserving the traits of parent plants in offspring. This is particularly important for breeders who want to develop new strains and maintain consistency with existing varieties. Regular seed also offers the potential for phenotype variation, allowing breeders to create unique and diverse cannabis strains.

Seed longevity is a complex trait, strongly influenced by environmental conditions during seed formation and storage. It involves a number of different mechanisms, including the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, and nonenzymatic reactions that compromise molecular stability [1].

The genetic and phenotypic stability of events introduced into a plant genome by gene engineering approaches forms a major part of the risk assessment required for regulatory approvals enabling commercial product release. These evaluations usually require sequencing and Southern blot data at the DNA, mRNA, or protein level. In addition, some regulatory authorities demand a detailed examination of segregation patterns. These additional assessments can add cost and time to the overall risk assessment process.

Genetic Diversity

Regular seeds produce both male and female plants, meaning they require careful monitoring to identify hermaphroditic plants and remove them before they pollinate the rest of the crop. This is more time consuming than growing feminized seeds, but it can still be done successfully with patience and knowledge. Regular seeds are also more affordable than feminized seeds, making them a popular choice for many growers.

Genetic diversity is important for a plant species because it reduces the recurrence of undesirable inherited traits. In addition, a variety of alleles can improve a plant’s ability to survive specific environmental stresses.

The number of clones in parental generations seems to affect levels of genetic diversity in the offspring generation. For example, the effective allele number decreases from parent to offspring generation for seed orchards GREEN1 and GREEN2 but rises for SO GREY (Table 4). However, these results might be biased by sample size differences between the two generations.

Cost

For the gardener who likes to make their own seeds regular seed is a vital ingredient. Male plants are separated and pollinated with female plants to produce new seeds for cultivation. This process is also often employed by outdoor growers who wish to re-establish small pockets of wild cannabis growing in forest or mountain areas.

Regular seed is also prized by some growers as a mother plant for cloning. A cut taken from a mother plant can be used to grow a plant that is genetically identical to the parent, ensuring consistency of flavour and aroma over time.

The choice between regular, feminized, and autoflower seeds will ultimately come down to the individual grower’s preferences, genetic stability, and phenotype exploration. For growers with a limited plant count or legal limits, feminized seeds may be preferable as they reduce the risk of wasting space and resources by sexing out males. For growers who prioritize breeding, genetic stability, and guaranteed rigorous growth, however, regular seeds should be the preferred option.

Pollination

Pollination is a key ecological process that requires the mutualistic interaction of plants and animals. It is the basis of seed production and the development of new plants. It is also a key component of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

Growers with regular seeds must sex their crops to ensure that male plants are removed before they pollinate females. This is a time-consuming task that requires careful observation. Ideally, sexing begins when the plant shows its sex characteristics in the pre-flowering stage.

The majority of cannabis growers now use feminized seed because it offers a greater level of security. However, those that prefer to work with regular seed still have options. The best way to tell if you’re buying a batch of regular or feminized seeds is to look at the numbering system on the packet. It should have two letters stamped on each side and a three-digit number. If the numbers are 11 or 22, you’re buying a pack of regular seeds.

Cannabis seeds are a type of plant that produces marijuana or hemp plants. They can be conventional, feminized, or auto-flowering. They also come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

Germinating cannabis seeds in soil is a simple process. However, it is important not to over-water them. Too much water can interrupt germination or kill the seeds.

Shape

It is a good idea to buy cannabis seeds that are symmetrical and have a thick shell. Avoid buying seeds with cracks or splits that expose the inner seed. It is also a good idea to buy seeds from reputable seed banks that offer growers easy-to-use guides and troubleshooting tips. They should also accept multiple payment options such as major credit cards and cryptocurrencies.

The outer layer of a cannabis seed can vary in color from very dark to light gray and may have stripes like tiger’s spots. However, these variations do not imply any differences in quality. The appearance of the seed is a result of environmental factors such as storage, moisture, and temperature. It is a normal feature of the plant that it can change its appearance in the course of growth.

Size

Cannabis seeds contain high amounts of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which help with the immune system. These fatty acids also reduce symptoms of dermatitis and alleviate the effects of eczema. Consuming hemp hearts is an easy way to get the body’s daily intake of these essential fatty acids.

There have been many theories as to whether the visual appearance of a seed can indicate something useful about the future plant it will produce. But the truth is that a seed’s appearance is purely cosmetic and doesn’t reveal anything about its future characteristics.

This is why it is important to stick with reputable seed companies that invest a lot of time and money into producing quality genetics. Seeds produced by professional seed banks have a higher germination rate and grow into robust plants that deliver exceptional cannabinoid and terpene profiles.

Color

Many growers wonder why cannabis seeds vary in colour and appearance. The answer to this is that the germination rates and growth characteristics of the plant that result are determined by a number of different factors. These include the terpenes and cannabinoid profiles of the strain, its cannabinoid and nutrient content, and yield.

Good quality seeds should be light to medium grey in color. They will have a sheen and should not crumble when pressed between your thumb and index finger.

Seeds that crack or crumble are unsuitable for growing and will not sprout. You should also avoid shaking or repositioning the seed as this may disturb it and cause it to start growing at an undesirable angle. This could result in a weak and unhealthy plant.

Characteristics

Cannabis seeds are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, especially fibre. They’re high in both soluble and insoluble fibre, which helps support healthy digestions and keep you feeling full for longer. They’re also an excellent source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

Hemp seed is used in a wide variety of foods and has many health benefits, including weight loss and heart disease prevention. Its dietary fibre promotes good heart health by keeping blood vessels open and aiding circulation. It’s also a great source of arginine, which is an amino acid that promotes muscle relaxation and healthy blood flow.

Contrary to popular myth, the colour of a cannabis seed is not an indicator of its quality. The shape and size of the seed are more reliable indicators of germination potential.

Varieties

The seeds of cannabis plants can vary in size, shape, and color. They are usually small and compact, with an outer shell protecting immature cotyledon leaves within. The cotyledon leaves are a good indicator of seed health. Healthy seeds also have a slight bloated appearance.

Marijuana seeds are used for medicinal purposes, including pain relief and sleep disorders. They can help reduce anxiety and depression, as well as relax muscles. They are known to relieve insomnia by increasing seroton levels, which can help people fall asleep.

ILGM is a world-class seed bank with a wide variety of marijuana strains and fast shipping. They also offer a free growers’ bible and detailed growing guides. This makes them a great choice for beginners. They also have an extensive selection of autoflowering and feminized strains.

Seed catalogs are arriving, and gardeners are planning their vegetable gardens and flower beds. A seed is a miniature undeveloped plant embryo, with stored food and enclosed in a protective coating.

Lowe’s offers a good selection of seeds but lacks specialty options. They also have a good return policy.

Embryonic Development

The seed consists of three compartments, the embryo, endosperm, and seed coat, that originate from different cells within the ovule and have varying complements of maternal and paternal genomes (Bewley and Black 1994). In the early morphogenesis phase, the embryo develops its body plan by rearrangement of cells in the zygote known as gastrulation. During this process, the cells fold over each other and form three layers of tissues, namely the ectoderm, which produces the skin and nervous system; the mesoderm, from which develop the connective tissue, muscles, and bones; and the endoderm, which forms the digestive tract, lungs, and urinary system.

Our results indicate that the ap2 mutant has a major impact on seed mass, primarily because of alterations in the growth of the embryo and the endosperm. The ap2 mutant exhibits an extended period of rapid endosperm growth early in development that is associated with delayed endosperm cellularization and overgrowth of the central vacuole. The ap2 mutation also delays the onset of the maturation phase in the endosperm, as evidenced by persistent periclinal cell divisions at the periphery of cellularized syncytium.

Germination

Seed germination is the process of turning a seed into a seedling. It is an important biological phenomenon because it determines continuous plant production, which is critical for human survival. Seed germination can be stimulated by a variety of factors, including temperature, light, humidity, water, and nutrients.

Water uptake (imbibition) is the first step in germination, and is followed by radicle and plumule emergence from the seed. During this phase, metabolic processes that were suspended during dormancy resume and the seed’s structure is altered.

Priming seeds are pretreated with various chemicals before they are imbibed to enhance their germination capacity under stress. This involves reducing the lag phase of imbibition, increasing the activation of enzymes involved in germination, decreasing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, and accelerating osmotic adjustment and starch metabolism. Priming can also improve germination of halophytes by allowing them to tolerate higher salinity. However, it should be noted that priming agents are not effective under all conditions.

Imbibition

Water is absorbed by solid particles of the imbibant such as seeds or dried wood in the process of imbibition. A steep water potential gradient exists between the absorbing and imbibed material. Hence, the volume of the imbibant increases. Water absorbs more easily into protein and starch than into cellulose because of their hydrophilic nature. This is known as the imbibition potential of a substance or its matric potential.

Water absorbed during imbibition is used to hydrate the seed and initiate germination. The hydration of the seed is facilitated by abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GA), plant hormones. The expression levels of genes encoding for ABA synthesis and deactivation are important in determining seed dormancy and germination.

The hydration of the seeds is indicated externally by the wrinkles that develop in their seed coat. The wrinkling pattern correlates with the position of the cotyledons in the seed. The wrinkling of the seed is due to imbibition pressure, which is the force that pushes water molecules into the roots from the surface.

Drying

The amount of moisture present in seed is an important factor affecting its quality and storability during long term storage. Drying seed to 4-6% moisture content on wet basis decelerates the rate of seed deterioration exorbitantly.

Seeds are dried either naturally on trays or floors in open sun or artificially by bin drying with heated air. Sun drying is slow and prone to bird or rodent attacks while bin drying results in high initial costs, space limitations and mechanical mixtures.

To achieve low moisture contents without sacrificing seed germination, it is important to dry seed with dehumidified air. Bin drying with unheated air is not able to accomplish this since it is unable to remove the moisture from seeds at the recommended drying temperature. Bry-Air offers a system for moisture removal and sensible humidity control in conjunction with refrigeration equipment which is used extensively by seed processors around the world. This allows for consistent control preventing the adverse effects of humidity on the product and maintaining the integrity of the seed.