Best Regular Seeds Blog

A seed is a fertilized, mature ovule with an embryo and a store of food enclosed in a hard seed coat. It completes the reproductive process of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants.

A seed lies dormant until conditions are right for germination. Most seeds require a certain temperature and moisture for growth to begin.

Definition

A seed is a fertilized mature ovule that contains an embryo or miniature undeveloped plant together with stored food reserves in the form of a testa and a protective coat. Seeds are the characteristic reproductive organ of flowering plants, and are found in all gymnosperms (naked-seeded plants such as cycads and conifers) and angiosperms.

Viable seeds possess innate dormancy, which is the ability to resist germination until environmental conditions are optimal. Dormancy may be induced before or during maturation, or in the case of endospermic seeds, it may be evoked after seed dispersal from its mother plant.

A seed article is one that is so short that a relatively knowledgeable editor could improve its content with only a superficial web search or quick reference check. An article that would be improved only with significant research is not considered a seed.

Origin

Seeds are a characteristic feature of the spermatophytes, plants that contain ovary-like structures for storing and dispersing their young. They are mainly found in gymnosperms (naked-seeded plants) and angiosperms (flowering plants).

Before seeds evolved, most land plants, including ferns and mosses, reproduced by spreading their spores into the air where they could land and grow into new plants. The evolution of seeds began somewhere in the Devonian period some 385 million years ago.

A seed contains an embryo and a nutrient tissue called endosperm, which it gets from its mother plant. It is also referred to as the functional megaspore wall in some species. The development of the functional megaspore wall is a process called megasporogenesis. Seeds that develop with physiological dormancy are characterized by their inability to germinate until exposed to certain environmental triggers.

Function

Seeds are vital in keeping a species alive through periods of unfavorable conditions and in distributing plants from place to place. The outer seed coat protects the embryo plant and may hold a supply of food for it (endosperm).

There is usually an embryo in a seed, which can be either single in monocots or double in dicots. There are also cotyledons, or seed leaves, attached to the embryo.

The cotyledons are a source of nutrients for the young seedling until it can make its own food by photosynthesis. The epicotyl is a stalk that extends from the point of attachment of the cotyledon(s) and will become the shoot. Physiological dormancy may be broken by cool wet or cool dry conditions, or by a process called stratification which involves adding water and allowing the seeds to undergo a period of moist chilling.

Varieties

When seed catalogs arrive, gardeners spend hours poring over the many varieties they can choose from. Gardeners can select from reliable industry standards, heirloom favorites and locally recommended varieties.

A variety is a distinctive strain of a crop that has been tested to show consistent performance and adaptability to growing conditions. A variety may be open pollinated (plants self-pollinate), hybrid or inbred.

Inbred seeds are derived from parent plants that have been bred for consistency and uniformity. Hybrid seeds are made when the pollen of two different plant varieties is artificially controlled. Company names may be used in a variety name, but once they become part of the legal name, anyone marketing that seed must use the full, legally assigned name. This can prevent confusion and protect brand identity.

Uses

Seeds are an important source of food for animals and humans. The seeds of cereal grains (wheat, corn, rice) are staples in many diets, while those of legumes (beans, peas, peanuts) provide important protein. Seeds also supply oils for cooking and for lubrication (linseed oil, jojoba oil, and castor oil), fibers for textiles, woody fibers, and some medicines, such as laetrile and ginseng.

Seeds can be dispersed by animal consumption or by wind, water, or gravity. Several adaptations allow for their long-distance transport, including fleshy appendages that attract animal dispersers; hooks and barbs that stick to fur and feathers; or wings for wind-based dispersal. Seeds are a major vehicle for the dissemination of improved varieties and hybrids in agriculture. The introduction of high-yielding varieties and hybrids has greatly increased crop yields.

When it comes to cultivating cannabis, the type of seed you choose depends on your growing experience and goals. Depending on the type of strain, you can choose either regular or feminized seeds.

Feminized seeds require sexing to produce only female plants. However, regular seeds have their own advantages.

It’s cheaper

Before feminized seeds, regular cannabis seeds were the only option. Feminized seeds are created when breeders select the best phenotype from their plants and use it to fertilize other female flowers. While this process has its benefits, it also removes the natural selection process. This can cause the clones to be less vigorous, which is why some growers prefer to choose regular seeds for their cultivation needs.

The best part about regular seeds is that they are cheaper than feminized seeds. However, this type of seed requires some experience to cultivate. It’s essential to sift out the males from the females early into the flowering stage to avoid accidental fertilization.

For the most part, sifting out the males and discarding them is the only way to guarantee that your crop will be entirely female. This type of seed is great for new growers who want to save money but still want a high-quality harvest. It’s also the best choice for growers who want to create their own bespoke strains.

It’s better for breeding

Choosing the right seeds for your next grow is an important decision. Feminized strains are popular and have their advantages, but regular seeds are also worth considering. Fortunately, MGS has both in stock!

The genetic stability of regular seed is vital for breeders. It allows them to create new strains by crossing different phenotypes, leading to unique and diverse cannabis varieties. It also means that the original traits of a strain are preserved over multiple generations, making it easier to develop clones.

As a result, many growers choose to cultivate regular seeds because they are cheaper than feminized ones. They also save on growing space and products such as substrate, fertilizers and insecticides. In addition, they don’t have to deal with the hassle of removing male plants. However, some growers prefer feminized seeds because they are more practical and easy to manage.

It’s more stable

Many growers enjoy growing regular seed because it’s a natural way to grow and they can watch the plants develop into mature male and female plants. This means that they can select the best ones to keep and cull the rest, which can lead to a high-quality crop. However, if the grower doesn’t want to deal with male plants or wants to harvest buds in a shorter amount of time, feminized seeds may be a better choice.

Another advantage of regular seed is that it is more stable than feminized seed. This is because feminized seeds are created by stressing female plants, which can cause instability. However, regular seed is produced naturally, so it’s much more stable against environmental stresses. This is especially important for breeders who need to produce new strains with consistent genetics. In addition, regular seed offers more variation in phenotypes, which can result in different tastes, aromas, and effects. These variations can also help to create new strains that offer unique benefits.

It’s better for cloning

When growing clones, it’s best to work with mature plants that have a solid stem and visible leaves. This gives the plant a better chance of producing robust offspring that are ready to grow and flower. This is a much better option than working with seedlings, which can be very fragile. Moreover, clones grown from regular seeds are known to have a longer shelf life than feminized seeds.

With cloning, you can get an exact genetic copy of a plant. This is especially helpful for those who are looking to replicate a certain strain because of its potency, morphology or specific colorations. However, cloning can be tricky and requires a lot of experience to master. This is why many home-growers prefer to use regular seeds. They’re the original seeds, after all, so they have the potential to produce a larger number of male plants than female ones. However, this shouldn’t be a huge problem as long as you have a reliable source of quality clones.

Before feminized seeds came along, growers used to experiment with regular cannabis strains. They could often find phenotypes that they enjoyed and wanted to cultivate again in the future.

Regular seed grows into female plants 99.9% of the time, but it can also produce male plants if you use stress techniques like topping, fimming and lollypopping. This can be annoying, but it is not a deal-breaker.

Stable Genetics

In cannabis, stable genetics refer to a strain that produces consistent offspring with predictable phenotypes. Stabilising strains involves a long process of crossing and back-crossing, which can take several generations to complete.

The first step in stabilising a strain involves selecting two parents that are healthy and display desirable traits. Next, breeders cross the siblings of these stable parents. The result is a hybrid offspring with varying degrees of predictability, depending on the stability of each parent.

Different versions of a gene are known as alleles and determine what traits a plant develops, or its phenotype. This is why two children born of the same parents may have different eye colour – they each inherit different alleles from their parents.

By crossing and back-crossing for several generations, breeders can gradually eliminate unwanted genes and introduce desired ones. The goal is to stabilise the strain and make it reproducible under a wide range of conditions. This makes stable seeds more valuable, and it opens up opportunities for agtech companies that can patent these genetics and license them to cultivators.

Organic

Growing organically means that a farmer has to be vigilant about tracking all seed and planting stock used. It also means that he or she must be careful about the source of their seeds, as not all conventional farmers follow the rules when it comes to organic farming.

Regular cannabis seeds operate exactly as nature intended — they have an equal chance of germinating as male or female plants. Using regular seeds is ideal for breeders who want to create new cultivars and make better-quality clones.

However, unlike feminized seeds that guarantee only female plants, a grower using regular seeds must carefully identify and remove hermaphroditic plants to prevent unwanted pollination. This can be time consuming and requires expertise and careful observation. Most growers prefer to use a combination of feminized and regular seeds, allowing for more experimentation and the potential for phenotype variation. This variation can lead to cannabis varieties that produce unique flavors, aromas and effects.

Breeding

Whether you grow for the first harvest or to cultivate the next, regular seeds are an excellent choice. They produce a large yield and retain their potency, meaning they can be used for multiple harvests.

If you’re an experienced grower, breeding in regular seed can be a rewarding experience. The process involves selecting a male and female plant and crossing them to produce more desirable strains. While this requires expertise, it’s possible for hobbyists with a little research and effort.

Unlike feminized plants, which guarantee a certain percentage of female plants, growing regular cannabis seeds requires careful monitoring and sexing to ensure the majority of your crop is female. This can be a challenge, but it’s important to prevent unwanted pollination and ensure your crops achieve the desired quality and yield. This is especially crucial if you’re hoping to produce flowers at a specific time of year. It’s also a lot easier to manage your crop when you don’t have to worry about male plants ruining it.

Cloning

Clones offer a great benefit, offering growers an exact replica of their mother plants in terms of genetics and phenotype. But there are a few catches with clones, including hidden flaws that may not show up until months into flowering, as well as the fact that they’re more susceptible to diseases and pests carried over from their mothers.

It’s important to inspect clones for signs of disease or pests before picking them up. Look for spots, webbing, and trace bite marks on the leaves, as well as a lack of vigor. Clones also require a nutrient-rich growing medium and rooting hormone to help them develop faster. They must be sexed to remove male plants promptly, and they must be given the same careful care as regular seeds in order to prevent hermaphrodites. These limitations can make working with clones a little tricky for novice growers. However, experienced growers know that clones can be worth the extra effort.