From

Location

Message

Date Posted

formerly RGG

I would like to know opinions and experiences of re creations of good crosses. I have the opportunity to remake a few good ones this year and am wondering what kind of results I may expect. For example I have a 197 Leonard and a 211 Leonard. So if I pollinate the 197 with the 211 it is the same cross as the 239 Leonard. So will I have an exact duplicate of the 239 Leonard genetics? What do you think?

4/21/2011 10:05:06 PM

El Paso TX.

I believe each seed has slightly different genetics - so even though it is the same Family line of seeds creating the cross the results may be similar or completely dissimilar - figure each seed carries a combination of genetics from the family tree of the male and female used in the cross but getting 2 exact matching sets of genetics would be very rare so there would be some family traits that were the same but also many differences.

4/21/2011 11:07:10 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Seein as how the 239 Leonard is one of the most sought after seeds this year...if ya do it and grow a 322# melon, it will be a very desirable seed!!! LOL Prbly true if it's 222#'s or 122#'s...lot's of folks would want to try the possibilities? Peace, Wayne

4/21/2011 11:16:57 PM

Muddy Waters

Cloning is the only to get exacts,You could get better results recreating crosses,Im doing The 239x157 cross =291 also doing 168 x157 =255 also the 285 cross, hoping to get a better result.Just think of it as 2 people having 600 kids they would all be different!but same Parents(genetics)

4/22/2011 6:42:06 AM

Pocahontas, Arkansas

I agree that it wouldn't be exactly the same genetically because as Handy said: same parents different kids... but here's a thought, who's to say the 239 Leonard or any of those great seeds had the best combination of the parental genetics in the first trial, a new cross could be slightly better.

4/22/2011 4:04:59 PM

formerly RGG

Thanks guys. That's kinda what I was thinking. It sounds like it could be promising and is certainly worth doing. I hope seed germination continues to go well. I am looking forward to growing this one next year.

4/22/2011 5:21:56 PM

formerly RGG

Good news, my 197 & 211 Leonards have both germinated and are in the patch. The 211 is actually on the side of the patch and will be primarily used as a pollinator. Thanks to the Leonards for helping me with seeds. I am really looking forward to duplicating the cross that went into growing the 239.

4/24/2011 10:41:29 PM