plant genetics

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bazil
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plant genetics

Post: # 31575Post bazil »

ive been thinking about seed saving and the genetic implications.......i saved some seed from my sun flowers las yr
an they turned out different...ie...they have smaller flowers.....does anyone know if inbreeding is a bad thing?

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Post: # 31576Post Wombat »

G'Day Baz,

Unless they were hybrid, saving seed from your best plants will slowly improve the adaption of the plants you are saving to your particular circumstances.

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hedgewizard
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Post: # 31585Post hedgewizard »

... but that doesn't necessarily mean the plant will select in the way you want it to, i.e. big showy flowers.

Generally the smaller the population you save seed from, the smaller the gene pool and so genetic mistakes tend to get amplified rather than grown out. Not necessarily a bad thing, but very unpredictable.

bazil
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Post: # 31629Post bazil »

cool


thanx guys

digiveg
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Post: # 31642Post digiveg »

Selecting the best is definitely the way to go. As an example of how inbreeding can go wrong, look at Prince Charles.

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