Seeds: Heirloom, Open-Pollinated, Hybrid, Non-Hybrid and GMO. What's the Difference?

Have you ever seen these labels on a seed package and wonder what do they mean? GMO seeds? F1 hybrid? What is Hybrid seed? However, before that,...

What is seed?

To put it simply, seed is a unit of reproduction of a flowering plant, capable of developing into another such plant.

Seeds of pumpkin, watermelon, carrots and one which I forget 😄

Seed is developed after fertilization by pollen and some growth within the mother plant. The process of pollination (transference of male pollen to a female part of a plant) is the determinant whether the seed is an Heirloom, Hybrid or Non-Hybrid.

What are Non-Hybrid Seeds? 

Non-hybrid seeds come from plants that are naturally pollinated. Non-Hybrids also known as open pollinated seeds or heirloom seeds.

What is an Heirloom Seed? 

Seed of an Heirloom plant.


What is an Heirloom Plant?
In general, it's a reference to vegetables and fruits that have been grown for a period of time although some horticulturists defined that any cultivar that was developed before 1951 can be categorized as an heirloom vegetable or fruit since prior to that, hybrid cultivars were not introduced yet.


What are the Pros and Cons of Heirloom Plants? 
Benefits - Superior flavor, color, size, and production, and more importantly, maintaining genetic diversity so as not to lose these crucial traits.

Disadvantages - Susceptible to diseases such as Verticillium and Fusarium wilt.

What are Hybrid Seeds? 

Hybrid seeds are produced through careful pollination of two specific varieties to bring together two traits in each of the chosen varieties so that the resulting seed has both of the traits. For example, one tomato plant may be very drought tolerant and another tomato plant produces vigorously, the two plants might be cross pollinated to produce a drought tolerant tomato plant that is highly productive.


What is F1 Hybrid? 
F1 is a reference to the first generation, or the first offspring resulted from cross pollination of two different varieties.

What is the Difference Between Hybrid and Heirloom? 
Traits in the seeds. The seeds from heirloom vegetables and fruits are resulted from open pollination where the characteristics from the parent plant are passed on to the seedlings. In contrast, the seeds from a hybrid plant contained a cluster of traits since the hybrid plant itself is a product of two or more cultivars hence the traits in the seeds are uncertain.

What are the Downsides of Growing Hybrid Seeds?
Unstable seeds. Hybrid seed typically developed into superior plant but the seeds from that plant may or may not grow like the parent plant, some seeds may not grow at all. This is the difference between Hybrid Seed and Non-Hybrid Seed; the latter typically will produce plants whose seeds will produce more plants that look the same as the parent plant.


Should I grow Hybrid Seeds or Non-Hybrid Seeds? 

Depends. Both hybrid seeds and non-hybrid seeds have their pros and cons.

Hybrid seeds tend to perform better; more resistance, more productive and less TLC (tender loving care). On the other hand, hybrid seeds tend to be more expensive and the seeds from the hybrid plants may or may not grow like the parent plants.

Non-hybrid seeds are rich in variety and the seeds from the plants normally grow the same as the parent plants. In contrast, non-hybrid seeds are more susceptible and less productive than their hybrid counterparts.

What is GMO?

GMO is short for Genetically Modified Organisms. One could argue that all the seeds resulted from sexual reproduction are genetically modified, or altered since the DNA of the seeds would differ from the parents. However, when one is talking about GMO, it normally refers to organisms that have had their DNA altered through human intervention where the gene of the desirable trait (e.g insect resistance) is transferred into the plant seed.

Is it Safe to use GMO seeds?

Personally, I'm leaning away from using GMO seeds. Based on my readings, GMO plants are being tested for years to ensure that it is safe for people, animals, and the environment. Maybe it is.

The use of chemical fertilizers was considered "good" until we found the adverse effects on soil biota, water table, global warming through the releases of greenhouse gases and maybe more. These effects are long-lasting and may be irreversible.

The same can be applied for GMO plants as the effects in the long run is questionable. Hence, I'm opting for non-GMO seeds for as long as I can.

Reference

1. Learn About F1 Hybrid Seeds.
2. Learn The Difference Between Non-Hybrid Seeds And Hybrid Seeds.
3. What Is An Heirloom Plant: Reaping The Benefits Of Heirlooms.
4. What Are GMO Seeds: Information About GMO Garden Seeds.
5. Were 37 Million Bees Found Dead After the Planting of a Large GMO Corn Field?
6. The Science Inside GMO Seeds.