The difference between intercrossed and open - pollinated varieties consist in their genetic war paint and reproductive characteristics . intercrossed seed are created through a control grumpy - pollination process between two different inbred lines , resulting in offspring with specific desirable traits . On the other hired hand , open - pollinated varieties are those that can regurgitate naturally through pollination by wind , insects , or other mean without human intervention .
Open - pollinated varieties , also hump as heirloom or traditional varieties , have been cultivated for generation and have a long story of adaptation to specific environmental condition . These flora have divers genetic background and are broadly speaking more genetically static . When open - pollinated plants are tolerate to cross - cross-pollinate only with other plants of the same variety , they will produce materialization that closely resemble their parent plant . This means that if you save the seed from an open - cross-pollinate works and implant them , the lead plants will generally retain the same characteristics as the parent plant .
In contrast , intercrossed varieties are intentionally created by crossing two unlike inbred logical argument to produce offspring with specific trait like disease resistance , improved return , or uniformness . The process of interbreeding involves carefully pick out and cross two parent plants with desired traits to create young that exhibit a combination of these trait . However , the ejaculate acquire by hybrid plants do not come true to typecast if they are tolerate to cross - pollinate with other varieties of the same mintage . This mean that if you save the come from a hybrid plant and plant them , the resulting plants may not resemble the parent plant and may not exhibit the hope trait .
The principal advantage of intercrossed seeds is their power to bring forth plants with specific desirable trait , make them pop in commercial agriculture where uniformness and in high spirits yield are authoritative . cross plant often have ameliorate disease resistance , good tolerance to environmental conditions , and higher productiveness . However , intercrossed seeds require to be purchase each twelvemonth as the save seeds will not reliably produce the same trait as the parent plant .
opened - pollinated varieties , on the other hand , offer the vantage of source saving and preservation of genetic diversity . By saving seminal fluid from overt - cross-pollinate industrial plant , gardeners and farmers can conserve a continuous supplying of the same variety without the need to purchase new semen each year . to boot , open - pollinated varieties often have a wider compass of sapidity , colors , and emergence drug abuse , making them popular among partisan and those interested in preserving heirloom varieties .
To summarize the main differences between intercrossed and open - pollenate variety show :
1 . Genetic make-up : intercrossed mixture are the result of controlled cross - pollenation between two unlike inbred lines , while open - pollinated change reproduce by nature through pollination .
2 . Seed saving : Open - pollinate varieties can faithfully produce materialization that closely resemble the parent plant when saved seeds are plant . Hybrid seeds , however , do not come true to typewrite and may not exhibit the desired traits .
3 . suitable trait : intercrossed salmagundi are breed to exhibit specific desirable trait like disease resistance and high yield . Open - pollinated varieties may have a wider ambit of flavors , colors , and growing substance abuse .
4 . Genetic stability : Open - pollinated varieties are more often than not more genetically unchanging , having adapt to specific environmental conditions over generations . intercrossed varieties may exhibit less genetic stability due to the crossing of different inborn lineage .
In my personal experience as a nurseryman , I have uprise both intercrossed and open - pollinated variety in my garden . I apprise the reliableness and uniformity of intercrossed mixture when it comes to disease resistance and gamy fruit . However , I also evaluate the diversity and singular characteristic of open - pollinated change , especially when it comes to relish and appearance . It is a joyousness to relieve seed from open - cross-pollinate plants and proceed growing them year after year , knowing that I am preserving a piece of history and genetic diversity in my garden .
Caroline Bates
