Question for Hybridizers

[flhiker]

I have been listening to Charles Darwin's Origin of Species. and I seem to be missing something. If hybrids are sterile, how is it that you are able to get a past the primary hybrid?

[Ordphien]

Hybrids aren't sterile normally to my knowledge.

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[flhiker]

Hmmm! I think I've heard people say here that hybrids are for he most part sterile. thanks for the reply.

[Ordphien]

I don't really have any room to talk about this though lol...
I'm not exactly versed in this area.

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[tucker85]

Most hybrids are not sterile but some are. When you cross orchids that are closely related they are usually fertile and can be used for further breeding. But some orchid hybrids wind up being sterile or others are just very difficult to breed.

[flhiker]

Thanks Tucker, His book refers to variety's and different species. I need to re listen to that chapter. Maybe he was talking about in nature. or between unrelated species.

[tucker85]

All living organisms on earth are related but they need to be closely related to breed and have fertile offspring. Some organisms are related closely enough to breed and have offspring but are far enough apart on the evolutionary tree that the offspring won't be fertile. A good example is a horse and a donkey. They're related and they can breed but the result is always a mule. A mule is bigger and stronger than either parent but is always sterile.

[flhiker]

it's beginning to sink in. he also referred to the same cross and basically the same tree reference. Thanks again. I think I will still redo the chapter, I can be a little thick.

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by flhiker

I have been listening to Charles Darwin's Origin of Species.....

I didn't know he was still around! LOL

[flhiker]

LOL no he may not be around, but his work and finds still exist. The man was brilliant.