This statement sounds, and no offense is meant, by someone who has not done a great deal of hybrid work. If you are "pollen chucking" F1 genes where might the "true breeding" come from? (1) How does one select for the F2, F3, and how might an heirloom variety be started without quality genetic traits that show through. (2). It all has to start somewhere, and the fingers crossed statement is in reference to the fact that unless the parents are phenotypically "known," it is a crap shoot (3). And one hopes to find a winner...to take to the next generationas parent stock.
There is no lack of variety either when it comes to cannabis. (4) At all. I am working with an evolutionary biologist at CU Boulder in the hopes of sequencing the genome of many different cultivars. The hopes are to understand cannabinoid synthase, as well as terpene synthase alleles. Point of this statement is he has told us that drug type plants may be up to 15-20% genetically different(don't quote me on that) from other hemp of feral "ruderalis" varieties. THe different subset do seem to be genetically close, kush, og, Pakistani, Afghanis have a great deal of diversity. With humans only diverging from our nearest genetic relation, chimps, by, what is it 3% (5), one can begin to see that the road to exotic true breeding plants may be a long and difficult process (6). Good thing we can push and create seed crops 3-4 times a year if really trying.
Peace
1) Not sure I get what you are asking. I am saying there is
not much true breeding in F1 genetics. The
parents of F1 genetics (should) breed true. A stable F1 hybrid is desired, which is done by crossing two distinctly different, yet true breeding, parents.
2) Again, unclear here (not trying to hate, trying to have an honest discussion). I think the real question here is, how to select through the F1 hybrids to find a true breeder. I am recommending not using F1 hybrids as typical breeding stock.
3) Unless the plant is
genotypically known, then it is a crapshoot. Until you breed with that plant AND test its progeny, you are right it is a crapshoot. But there are ways to speed the crapshoot up. A plant that breeds true will typically express the traits it breeds true for. AKA choosing a plant that yields well will
typically show better results in progeny for yield, than a plant that does not yield well.
4) I don't agree. When the genome has been looked at a little further, I will be able to comment my opinion on that matter. Until then, I think it is important to save variety in cannabis. We have learned many many many times that variety is so much better than monoculture. You can look at almost any plant, and find a case that lack of variety has caused a huge issue. I have a few examples if you would like clarification here.
5) Not going to comment on human and animal diversity compared to plant diversity. I don't know enough about animal genetics to apply that to plants. In other words, I am not sure that a 3% genetic diversity between humans and chimps could be related to a 3% difference between two plant species. How closely are hops related to cannabis?
Is plant variety in terms of preserving pest resistance or resin makeup even measurable with statistics?
6) Yes, absolutely the road is long and difficult. Plant breeding in general is long and difficult. So when cannabis breeder piggyback on each other, and the road is not long and difficult, you can see where we might make a crack for problems to arise. Specifically in genetic variety.
