From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Akron,N.Y.

What's the good and bad about selfing.I was thinking about doing just that but still reading 'How to grow world class pumpkins -organically'
Thanks in advance

11/15/2009 6:03:25 PM

Anchorage, Alaska

Selfing a plant is an attempt to cause the next generations to more reliably exhibit the positive characteristics of the parent.

Say you have a hypothetical genetic trait for tremendous plant growth - represented by ZZ. Before you self the plant, you have no idea if the plant is Zz or zz which are not as desirable. zz produces dill rings, and Zz is bad because when you cross it with another plant you have the possibility of getting zz dill rings again.

What selfing does is gives you a better chance of getting ZZ seeds - a dominant trait for outstanding growth. Because ZZ is dominant, the next generation of any cross you make with it will show the awesome growth pattern of it's parent.

However, you inevitably reinforce other less desirable characteristics which can outweigh the benefits. (Probably causing your following pumpkins to look like pancakes)

Good Luck

11/15/2009 11:56:35 PM

Colorado Springs.Co

Hmmm, I think you need some zzz's Newman. Can I add that it keeps the genetics pure, unaltered?

11/16/2009 12:56:03 AM

Bemidji Minnesota

The idea is that if a fruit has wonderful characteristics, by selfing it, each successive generation the result is more predictable.

Its not like in animals where too many of those generations starts to cause genetic breakdown.

You could have a pumpkin seed that has been selfed for 10 generations, and still have perfectly healthy pumpkins.

Disclaimer: Someone correct me if I’m wrong on that, as I have never grown a 10 gen x self seed before.

11/16/2009 3:46:44 PM

Akron,N.Y.

Thanks for explaining selfing,very interesting.Asking questions and getting answers only leads to more questions it seems.I'll keep posting.
THanks for your help!

11/16/2009 6:43:46 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

meathead(sorry I'm not remebering your name:-(
If you look at open-pollinated squash seeds, you'll find varieties that have been selfed for many generations, such as Blue Hubbard, Butternut, Buttercup, etc. These produce fruit with very predictable characteristics. So I'm assuming the same predictability could be achieved with A.G.s. It's a matter of someone(or more than one person) dedicating time and space to this type of project. I'm curious to see how the 1725 Harp performs. I've grown the 603.5 Muller(845 Nesbitt X self) a number of times, and seen a quite a few of it's progeny. It's quite predictable in terms of producing good orange color, although it is still variable to some extent. There is quite a bit of variability in shape. One generation of selfing can produce some semi-predictable traits, but I imagine several generations are needed to produce a high degree of predictability.

11/17/2009 1:27:23 AM