Hybrid Help

17 years ago

I want to make hybrids with my cacti. More specifically, Rebutia. They bloom quite freely and some varieties are self fertile. I dont know if this matters. Heres my understanding of hybridizing: Select two plants within the same genus(not always necessary)that are blooming at the same time or the pollen has been frozen. Take the pollen from plant A to plant B using a feather or small brush. The seeds should contain traits from both A and B. Sow the seeds and I should have a hybrid. But here is where I get confused. In order to get a hybrid true to form (meaning that 100% of the seeds will produce the same traits as the hybrid) I have to continue to only pollinate the hybrids that are true to the hybrid traits until eventually the seeds will become "true to form".

If this is correct or mostly correct here are my questions:

Will the flowers on my hybrid become sterile from this? If so, how is it possible to keep the hybrid producing seeds so that I may one day get the seed true to form? Will the flowers being self fertile counter act the sterility? Or are there only a small percentage that will/wont be sterile?

Im still researching hybridizing so i may be missing the big picture. If I am wrong anywhere please please correct me. I have always been fascinated in genetics so any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance

plant_junkie

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Comments (7)

plant_junkie
Original Author
17 years ago
Also, I am having problems finding web searches on this subject. It quite frustrating when results are for "newly developed hybrids" in Japan. This is of course for automobiles and not plants. If there is any literature or links on this subject that you may know of, I would love to read it. Thank you
P_J
tjicken
17 years ago
You cannot propagate a "true" hybrid (I guess you mean one with a name) by seeds. There is always a variation among plants from the same seed batch from the same mother plant. Named hybrids are always propagated vegetatively.

I don't know what happens if you self-pollinate a hybrid for several generations, but it doesn't sound like a good idea. I believe Rebutia hybrids will remain fertile for several generations, so it should not be an immediate problem.
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plant_junkie
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you tjiken!! I figured that the hybrids are propagated vegetatively (offsets, cuttings or tissue culture). I wasnt sure if getting the seeds true to form is something I should be concerned about. Hearing that the flowers should stay fertile for a few generations is sweet to my ears. Thank you for clearing that up for me!!
plant_junkie
tjicken
17 years ago
I cannot promise that they will remain fertile, but it seemed likely as there are cacti that propagates themselves almost exclusively by self-pollination, and I have not seen any decrease in fertility yet among my own Rebutia (but I have only inbred a few for two generations).
tjicken
17 years ago
Could you try to explain why you want seeds? I have tried to find a reason, but I cannot think of any since Rebutia form offsets so easily. Fun?
plant_junkie
Original Author
17 years ago
I am the type of person that goes big or goes home. I like to master things. I see getting true to form seeds as a challenge and perhaps a weak goal. Im not going to count my chicks before they hatch but if in the process of creating hybrids I can do that also, thats what Id like to do. Hence all of my posts. Sometimes I feel that I post too many. I dont have anyone or anywhere else to share my thoughts. Im curious by nature. So thank you for being patient with me. Im a noob :)
plant_junkie
tjicken
17 years ago
No problem, it was an interesting question. I was just curious.