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Stouffville

I was just thinking about why this thing called hybrid vigor occurs. All I can think up is if you have two fairly consistent strains with respect to a trait, when you cross the two strains you may end up with a fruit that has a combination of these traits and consequently end up with better growth characteristics depending on the combination of traits. A little hypothetical example:

say you have two strains that regularly make it to around 700 lbs, however they both do it in different ways. One grows really quickly however hardens off early, the other taking its sweet old time but doesn't harden off at all. Then perhaps a cross between these two lines can combine these traits so that you have a fruit that grows quickly and doesn't harden off.

This is sort of a simple example. Perhaps this occurs with different metabolic or chemical steps in starch formation for instance i don't know. I'm just curious to hear what others think or even know about this topic. I really don't know anything about hybrid vigor and am just speculating as to how it could or why it does occur.

mike

1/20/2004 11:43:36 AM

Sask, Canada

Mike:

I am mentioning hybrid vigor in my line breeding primer's, but put together the basics of it in this document for you.

http://www.members.shaw.ca/giantveggies/vigor.html

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

1/20/2004 5:56:58 PM

Stouffville

Hey Ernie, thanks for taking the time to explain this topic. I guess what I'm questioning is the mechanism at work behind hybrid vigor. Why does it occur? I guess I still don't have that answered in my head. I'm slow to learn stuff but have a need to understand it really well...a combination that can lead to frustration.

How do 935 Lloyds grow? Do they grow fast, cantaloup a lot? I guess i'm just wondering why for size the 865 Mettler makes such a good pollinator. Shouldn't the 963 Stucker be even better? And why would it be that if you cross two genetically stable strains, larger fruit may result. I guess I've never been a fan of buzz words especially when I don't fully understand the ins and outs of the concept.

What does it mean to have more vigorous growth? why does it occur? can that even be answered or must it just be accepted?

1/20/2004 6:17:13 PM

Deer Park, WI

The true mechanism behind hybrid vigor is not understood. Its one of those things in nature that just happens, without a relevent explanation....yet.

1/21/2004 8:44:56 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Many growth regulating hormones, esters, & amines are known to synergize when combined. Consider when two phenoxy herbicides are combined as an example:

Phenoxy Herbicide A controls 5 weeds
Phenoxy Herbicide B controls 3 weeds
Combined the two control 20 weeds. WHY?

Synergy. Conventional logic would suggest that A + B = 8 weeds. But when combined they synergize in ways that are hard to grasp.

Since phenoxy compounds simulate other plant growth regulators, it is probably safe to assume that we may someday identify pgrs in plants that synergize naturally. But so far there is no anecdotal evidence of this. Like Joe said. "YET"

Steve

1/21/2004 2:00:11 PM

Norton, MA

How 'bout a maximum of 6 letters per word so I can understand it. LOL!

1/21/2004 7:11:16 PM