From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Fenton, MI

OK lets say you had a 255 Mitchell and a 285 Edwards and cross them with each other. Better or not?? 255 07 F 168 Johnson X M 157 Bright 285 08 F 157 Bright X 168 Johnson

12/14/2011 11:09:01 PM

Muddy Waters

I think its on a individual seed to seed basis.If you get the right 2 it could be Dynamite,wrong 2 disaster.

12/15/2011 7:51:15 AM

sevierville, Tn

i think it would make a great cross. 2 top seeds that have WR potential , then crossed together = great. Of cource as mark said you won't know till you get to the end & the melons are done, but the 255 seem to be very consistant, & i really liked what i saw from the 285.

12/15/2011 3:32:33 PM

Mount Vision, NY

Let's take this post in a slightly different direction seeing as a reciprocal cross is being talked about. Where the parents are flip flopped in the male/female role. Does anyone think that a certain parent passes along different characteristics depending on whether it's used as a female parent or a male parent?
I've hybridized daylilies for a number of years and you generally select the seed (pod) parent to pass along the plant qualities you're looking to breed into the offspring (dormancy, plant size, health etc). You use the pollen parent to add the flower traits (ornamentation, segment width, opening qualities etc) you're looking to add. Any ideas or comments?

12/18/2011 7:34:57 AM

Muddy Waters

I think Marvin & Bill would have to answer this.They grew them & know there growing traits & the parents growing traits better than most,

12/18/2011 8:47:38 AM

Mount Vision, NY

I'm not necessarily talking about just the 157 and the 168 Mark. I'm talking watermelons in particular or even pumpkins, cantaloupes, long gourds, etc for that matter.

12/18/2011 9:49:11 AM

Corryton, TN

At this point I dont think so. Recently I found research that identifies a great number of genes that control seed color, vine, flower, fruit, resistance and mutants. These appear to come from either/both parents.

12/18/2011 11:25:52 AM