Released July 17, 2009
PINE BLUFF, Ark. - In these economic times, the question of whether or not hybrid seeds are worth the cost comes to mind and frequently finds its way to Obadiah Njue, Extension horticulture specialist with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Cooperative Extension Program.
When a packet of 50 watermelon seeds for the Mini Yellow Watermelon variety sell for $65 ($1.30 each), producers wonder if they are worth it. Last year UAPB researchers established research plots at the UAPB farm in Lonoke to check the variety performance under southeast Arkansas growing conditions. The Mini Yellow Watermelon is a hybrid, small-sized watermelon with yellow flesh and comparatively high sugar content.
The results of last year’s harvest do not seem to support the notion that the seeds were overpriced. Growers typically plant 1-3 seeds per hill if direct seeded and 1-2 seedlings per hill if using transplants. Each hill at the test site averaged 10 marketable Mini Yellow Watermelons, which sell for $1 to $3 each. That’s a minimum return of $250 for a $65 investment in seeds. The project is being replicated this year.
Interest in both hybrid and heirloom (open-pollinated) vegetable varieties is increasing, says Njue, in part, because of the price and/or quality of seeds, the quality of the fruits and personal preference.
Hybrid varieties are produced by crossing two different parent varieties and producing a new, uniform seed variety with specific characteristics from both parents. "This process may take plant breeders more than seven years to develop ‘pure lines’ used as parent varieties in the cross," says Dr. Njue. Pollination is done under controlled conditions with no cross pollination from insects, the wind or any other source. Hybrid seeds must be purchased each year.
Heirloom or open-pollinated are the old cultivars. Open- pollinated seeds are a result of pollination by wind, bees or other agents and their characteristics are relatively fixed within a range of variability. Growers can save their seeds for next year’s crop.
"Most commercial vegetable seeds are those of specific improved varieties of both hybrid and open-pollinated," says Njue. "But, hybrids are increasingly being used worldwide to meet the demand of food for increasing populations."
Hybrids have been developed with desirable characteristics such as good vigor, high yields, uniformity, early maturity and disease resistance. Uniform plant habits make hybrid vegetables suitable for mechanical harvesting. Hybrids produce fruits with uniform maturity, shape and size.
A disadvantage is that growers must buy seeds from the seed producer every time they plant, and the seeds of hybrids usually cost more than seeds of heirloom or open-pollinated varieties.
"The advantages of hybrid seeds outweigh the cost," says Njue, "but there may be a ‘niche’ market for heirloom vegetables. Growers may get a better price for their heirloom varieties, but they should find their niche market before planting."
In addition to saving seeds for future crops, other advantages of growing heirloom varieties is that they give a reliable performance with little or no inputs (fertilizer, etc). Heirloom varieties may also withstand some environmental stresses better than hybrids. They adapt well to organic vegetable production practices.
Disadvantages include low yields as compared to hybrid varieties thus the production per unit area is low. The produce may be of a lower quality and more highly variable, thus limiting market potential.
"Do not let the high cost of hybrid vegetable seeds keep you from realizing the potential investment they offer," advises Njue.
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/july2009/0717uapb.htm
Writer: Carol Sanders, (870) 575-7238, sanders_c@uapb.edu
