Can I collect the seeds of F1 hybrids.
Every gardener when buying seeds scrutinizes bags. Many packages of seedlings of pepper, tomato and cucumber F1 has an inscription. What does it mean to indicate that manufacturers such obscure information?
Some gardeners, having seen such an inscription, believe that F1 represents the GMO, but this opinion is erroneous. Nothing in common between the two labels. Seeds labeled F1 does not bring any harm to the human body!
What is F1
Gregor Mendel in the 19th century experimented with peas seeds. The essence of the experiments was to study the inheritance of seed, that is, how well they convey the parental property. As a result, he was able to bring hybrids, which get their name F1. If you decipher the abbreviation F - Latin Filii translated as children, and the number one means generation.
As displayed in hybrids
Get hybrid seedlings easy. This will require two self-pollinating plants, belonging to the same species, but in this case having different dominant traits. At a time when the flowers begin to open, with a single bush need to remove the stamens, the other to collect pollen, which pollinate the flowers of the first Bush. Once the seedlings appear, they are collected. The seeds collected from these plants are called F1. Prevailing quality vegetables are only transmitted from parents to children. This means that the second generation (F2), can not get these symptoms. From F2 plants can grow unpredictable. This is the reason that collect plant material from the F1 hybrids are not worth it.
The positive side of F1
Such seedlings are much better than their "parents". It is treated best human example. The father and mother of the growth of 160 cm, a child is born, which later grows up to 180 cm. The same happens with hybrid seedlings.
After the fruit ripening in hybrid plants are more juicy, tasty, large and carry the disease much better.
Do F1 cons?
In order to grow these seeds need to exert more effort than growing conventional crops. They need to be more likely to fertilize and water. Livni, a severe drought, extreme changes in temperature - all this has a negative impact on plants belonging to F1.
Also collect seeds from F1 you do not get. Since the collection is not obtained the F1 and the F2 seeds, which give less yield, but can not give it at all, you have to spend money to purchase new seedlings each year.
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