Hybridization
 

Hybridization has improved the scope of plant survival in arid conditions, resist infections of various kinds , much rapid growth than the parent plants , but trying to play with nature has drawbacks like pairing an inadvertent mutant parent and creating a defective offspring

Explain the pertinence to orchids.

At least with orchids it is normal for a genetic incompatibility fail to produce viable seed or if germination does occur the resultant plants are weak, spindly and do not last long. The $ Industry does not warrant gene splicing for desirable traits ( as opposed to selection of desirable traits in progeny and subsequent hybridization ) and I hope that never happens.

What are you trying to say? That you are against hybridization?

Even in nature there will be bad crosses which produce 'defective' offspring, but we may not notice since they either fail to develop, or fail to reproduce.

Pertinence to orchids is that hybrid orchids adapt to arid conditions like high intensity light and inadequate water in tropical and sub tropical climates, as compared to the cold to temperate climates you are exposed. Hybrid orchids can withstand well to these changes visa vis their parent orchids from whom they are hybridized, besides better produce, these are well known facts . Hybridization is nothing but man’s interference with the nature and a faulty pairing between defective / mutant parent(s)can result in defective gennext .

---------- Post added at 12:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:46 PM ----------

Not against hybridization, the flip side is well known, the flop side also has to be remembered. Can be called inadvertent defective pairing which is the flop side

---------- Post added at 01:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:53 PM ----------

Over simplification: next time your doctor prescribes some medication please go through the accompanied literature you will find indications, mechanism of action, adverse effects, side effects , drug inter reactions etc etc..,( don’t bother to decipher them) but that doesn’t deter your doctor to prescribe because all the positives and negatives have been weighed/ factored in by him / her before prescription. Similarly, hybridization has many plus points but it has also some negatives which were borne in mind by those who are performing the genetic pairing.if it is nature then it is beyond control

---------- Post added at 01:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:16 PM ----------

Sincere thanks to the senior members who joined the string and made the discussion lively

You do know that there are natural hybrids, don't you? They usually occur where two compatible species coexist in the same geographic region, but are still not all that common, as orchid/pollinator relationships are quite narrow.

I would say that very little hybridization is done for the sake of producing drought-tolerance, and in the case of temperature tolerance, it has been quite limited. Most often, it is done to improve the flower.

Coming from the world of generally cool growing Cymbidium hybridizing, much has been done, most of it stimulated by the commercial market, in breeding for warm growing, heat tolerance, smaller plants, wider seasonal spread, spots, unusual patterns, bright color, floriferousness, repeat blooming, extension of bloom season and fragrance. This goes hand in hand with the fraternity of judges which desires fuller form, larger flowers, brighter saturated color, more color variety, unique patterning, and higher flower counts. Is this so bad?

Many roads have been traveled in Cym hybridizing. Is there room for more improvement or trying different directions? ABSOLUTELY!