Fwd: Re: Fwd: [Seedgeeks] pre-meditated veggie grex dissussion

[dan at openaccess.org]

Thanks Nick

Here are some ideas:

SYNTHETIC VARIETY
    A variety produced by crossing inter se a number of genotypes selected
for good combining ability in all possible hybrid combinations, with
subsequent maintenance of the variety by open pollination....an
interbreeding population derived from the propagation of multple
hybrids

COMPOSITE-CROSS POPULATIONS
    A population generated by hybridizing more than two varieties and/or
lines of normally self-fertilizing plants and propagating successive
generations of the segregating population in bulk in specific
environments so that natural selection is the principal force acting
to produce genetic change; artificial selection may also be imposed on
the population, the resulting population is expected to have a
continuously changing genetic makeup; breeder seed is not maintained
as originally released
    Examples: `Harlan' barley, `Mezcla' lima bean.

from: North Carolina State University plant breeding glossary
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grex
    A flock or group, applied collectively to the offspring of a given cross.

from:  Canadian Orchid Congress
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I recalled putting plants of close affinity together, like 6 kinds of
turnips, 3 kinds of beets, 10 kinds of corn, 3 kinds of carrots, 4 kinds
of fava beans, and encouraging them to cross. I figured that adaptation
comes from genetic variation. How to support this variation was to
encourage crossing, genetic recombination and development of new kinds
directly in response to the local conditions. So for several years I have
been collecting seeds of these mixed kinds of crosses which I call grexes.

.....Chance crosses from unexpected pollinators lead to new adaptivars....

Oleraceas, i.e. cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, some kales, all interbreed
and outcross. Hence one needs only two plants, one of each kind to
generate a F1 population. Saving seeds on this F1 population gives a F2
mix, unusually with interesting new kinds. Mustards, Chinese cabbage,
Bok-Choy, turnips belong to two other brassica species and can and do
cross quite readily. Thus roots, leaves, stems and flowering behavior all
intermix, waiting for the discerning eye, the aware palette of taste and
flavor and the willingness to allow adaptation and selection to proceed.
And from these one can begin exploring the fabric of diversity, saving a
few seeds and looking in one's neighborhood for who is related to who is
related to who is related to who. Best of gardening seasons for everyone.

from: Alan Kapuler
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So who are you going to plant next to who this year? Perhaps I cannot
plant a full blown kinship garden, but I can plant a kind of close-up of
parts of one.

I'm hoping in the Brassicas to have 4 cultivars of collards and Couve
Trunchuda together; a few larger kales such as marrowstem, walking stick,
and Lacinato, together with Daubenton, and Giant Jersey kales if I can get
them. I would like to include other kales with perennial habits but do not
know if I can get them or not.

In the Alliums my son, Morgan, and I are hoping to continue intercrossing
the nodding onion with Kelsae and Grandpa Schneider. This I hope will
bring in the much hardier seed sprouting of the wild onion with the best
of the rest, and hoping we do not end up with the worst of all. :-) I am
not sure the crosses are even happening or happening in a classical
fashion. I just found out this year, Where have I been?, that onions have
low inter-species crossabilty.

I am fascinated with the oil seed, Hopi Dye seed, and "not-yellow" -mostly
red or chocolate sunflowers, so am planting them in blocks around the
garden and hope to cross them as the spirit moves me this year. Who knows
what I will do next with them.

I am trying to get all reasonable Quinoas together for some new
combinations --- we'll see on this one............

There are other plant projects.... all depend on my strength and endurance
which are not as I had before..........

It is not that I want to plant just anything that will cross together, but
those that seem to me that they and I will benefit from the association.
To some extent, we have suffered a paradigm paralysis in keeping to
varieties and breeding for varieties. Oftimes I suspect we lose more than
we gain by conforming to the "variety paradigm"

Dan Borman
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> Interesting possibility - we might be able to get Dr. Alan Kapuler on
> board our list - he, arguably one of the foremost plant breeders worldwide
> - former research director for Seeds of Change, among many other
> accomplishments. Lemme see what I can do to help it happen. Hold yer
> hosses!
>
> n.