Difference between open pollinated seeds and Hybrid seeds

There are so many differences between open pollinated seeds and hybrid seeds. Firstly, let us know about a seed and how it is important for nature. A seed is a reproductive structure containing a fertilized embryonic plant in an arrested state of development. It is in dormancy until sown. Seeds vary in color, shape, size and texture.

There are three types of seeds. They are Open pollinated seeds, Hybrid seeds, Genetically modified seeds or GMOs.

Open pollinated seeds

Pollinated by natural means (wind, insects, birds). Either within the same flower or between 2 flowers of the same plant. They are classified into two types. Heritage seeds and Heirloom seeds.


Features:

Can be saved. They create pure seeds that are similar in characteristics to the parent plant.

Able to adapt to a specific local environment.

To maintain varietal purity, they require isolation while growing.

Naturally resistant to pests.

Vigorous and need less water. High-yielding in right conditions. Most cost-effective.

Hybrid seeds

Produced by pollinating 2 or more open-pollinated varieties in the laboratory, for promoting specific characteristics of the parent plant(s).

Features:

Usually high-yielding, compared to the parent; since the plant’s energy unused for reproduction is used for its growth.

Hybrid varieties do not reproduce true-to-type. They cannot be saved.

They are expensive as they need to be purchased for every sowing.

They result in a loss of biodiversity as they do not preserve the properties of the parent open-pollinated plants.

Hybrids typically require corrosive chemical fertilizers and pesticides with intensive irrigation.

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