An Opinion .

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

I wish that more people would focus on species.
Nothing more to say.

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

Beat this !

[Starla]

WOW! Thats amazing!!

[tucker85]

Very pretty colors! Many people do collect and grow species.

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by tucker85

Very pretty colors! Many people do collect and grow species.

OK I hate to show my ignorance but what is heterosis ? It sounds like a skin disease.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by tucker85

OK I hate to show my ignorance but what is heterosis ? It sounds like a skin disease.

Sorry, I have a plant breeding background so I forget that vocabulary that is basic in breeding is not for other people.

Heterosis = hybrid vigor. Basically the offspring is superior to the sum of the parents, sort of like 1+1=3. This effect is especially strong when you cross 2 highly inbred (pure) parents. F1 hybrids of crop plants are a famous example of this: higher yields, better growth, more vigorous plants. It also happens to a lesser extent in less pure lines, which explains why hybrids are more adaptable.

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Sorry, I have a plant breeding background so I forget that vocabulary that is basic in breeding is not for other people.

Heterosis = hybrid vigor. Basically the offspring is superior to the sum of the parents, sort of like 1+1=3. This effect is especially strong when you cross 2 highly inbred (pure) parents. F1 hybrids of crop plants are a famous example of this: higher yields, better growth, more vigorous plants. It also happens to a lesser extent in less pure lines, which explains why hybrids are more adaptable.

Thank you for the excellent definition. However, no where does it mention improved blooming. In orchids, Cymbidiums in my case, I have found that one has to be very careful what species are crossed. If one crosses two parents with vastly disparate cultural requirements, plants may be very vigorous growers but never bloom.

The bottom line in all crossing is to know the requirements/characteristics of not only the actual parents involved, whether they are species or hybrids, but as many of the prior generations as possible. In orchids this is not easy, as generally the specific cultivars used are unknown. Having done a little of both I found it a little easier in breeding dogs if one puts the time and energy into extensive research.

Cym Ladye

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

Thank you for the excellent definition. However, no where does it mention improved blooming. In orchids, Cymbidiums in my case, I have found that one has to be very careful what species are crossed. If one crosses two parents with vastly disparate cultural requirements, plants may be very vigorous growers but never bloom.

True, but I was speaking about plants in general and not specifically flowering plants like orchids, and my knowledge is based on crop plants, be they agricultural or horticultural. I know that for those crossing 2 pure line homozygous parents can lead to more/larger blooms, among other things.

[RobS]

I agree that hybrids play a role in getting people into the hobby and that some people just like big flashy hybrids (tastes differ). But there are many easy to grow beautifull species and there are many hybrids that are just copies of the same.

My main issue is with non intergenerice hybrids in non starter genera like Encylia, Stanhopea, etc. These ad confusion to identification and nothing to easy to grow hybrids or orchids in general for beginners.

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Sorry, I have a plant breeding background so I forget that vocabulary that is basic in breeding is not for other people.

Heterosis = hybrid vigor. Basically the offspring is superior to the sum of the parents, sort of like 1+1=3. This effect is especially strong when you cross 2 highly inbred (pure) parents. F1 hybrids of crop plants are a famous example of this: higher yields, better growth, more vigorous plants. It also happens to a lesser extent in less pure lines, which explains why hybrids are more adaptable.

Thank you for the great explanation. That's interesting information. I think we're lucky to have people with education and experience like yours on this fourm.