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Post by Marches on Mar 23, 2017 16:21:35 GMT -5
I have some tomato seedlings growing, a fairly generic variety. They were shown in a mixture of compost and soil and all grown in the same conditions (in a warm window then in a greenhouse when the weather improves, then back to the windowsill when the weather went unexpectedly cold again). I think the spell in the greenhouse has hardened them up a bit, they're not so floppy now and as keen to grow towards the light which is good. One seedling is growing much better and than the others though. This isn't a cross I've made and the variety isn't an F1 so i don't see why it should be growing different from the others really, it's much more vigorous.
My question is if i saved seeds from this plant would i get an "elite line" of this variety which grows better than the standard variety or is this just some fluke, some chance happening?
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Post by rowan on Mar 23, 2017 18:37:29 GMT -5
That is how better lines and varieties have always been developed. The genetic make up of this plant is more adaptable to your climate so it is the one to save seeds from. Any seedlings from the seeds you save will be more likely to have the same good qualities to pass onto the next generation. Welcome to the fantastic world of selection
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Post by templeton on Mar 26, 2017 16:58:04 GMT -5
It might be chance, or it might be a random mutation, or a number of other things. Rowan's suggestion is spot on - the only way to tell is keep growing it. Alternatives - it might have germinated a little bit quicker due to micro placement in the seed raising mix - it might have developed an earlier association with soil fungi. it might have just lucked on to a perfect little nutrient patch in the soil mix. It might have been a slightly fatter seed that got slightly better nutrients when it was developing in the fruit, that enabled it to get away more quickly. But genetics do drift a bit, and it might have just combined the 'right' mix of genes for your setup. here's hoping T
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