OPV and hybrid seeds are two types of crop varieties used in agriculture. OPVs (open-pollinated varieties) are produced using traditional breeding methods. Before the introduction of hybrid seeds, crop yields were relatively low. With the ever-increasing population, food shortages became a growing concern. To address this, scientists developed hybridization, which involves the crossing of two inbred lines.
The key difference between OPV and hybrid seeds is their production. OPV are plant varieties that reproduce through their own pollens while hybrid seeds are seeds of hybrid varieties that are produced from crossing two different inbred lines.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is OPV
3. What are Hybrid Seeds
4. Similarities – OPV and Hybrid Seeds
5. OPV vs Hybrid Seeds in Tabular Form
6. Summary – OPV vs Hybrid Seeds
7. FAQ – OPV and Hybrid Seeds
What is OPV?
Open-pollinated varieties are the result of natural cross-pollination or self-pollination between two plants of the same variety. If a person has an open-pollinated variety in the garden, it produces seeds that people can save and plant the following year to grow the exact same plant.
Figure 01: OPV
OPV are great for seed saving and making sure that there is a continuous supply of seeds year after year. However, they may not have the disease and pest resistance found in hybrids.
What are Hybrid Seeds?
Hybrid seeds are a result of cross-pollination. To produce hybrid seeds, pollinators and seed breeders cross two different types of the same plant. In this process, pollen is collected from the male flower of one variety and transferred to the female flower of another variety.
Figure 02: Hybrid Seeds
Hybrid seeds have a better chance of survival, disease and pest resistance, and yield compared to non-hybrid seeds. However, in hybrid seeds, the offspring may often not produce the same type of fruit.
Similarities Between OPV and Hybrid Seeds
- OPV and hybrid seeds are two terms used extensively in plant biotechnology.
- Hybrid seeds are obtained from hybrid plants that are created when two open-pollinated varieties are crossed in order to form a new variety of the same plant.
- Both are made by pollinators and seed breeders.
- They have benefits as well as drawbacks.
Difference Between OPV and Hybrid Seeds
Definition
- Open-pollinated varieties are made from natural cross-pollination or self-pollination between two plants of the same variety.
- Hybrid seeds are produced by crossing two different varieties of the same plant.
Benefits
- OPVs are great for seed saving and ensuring a continuous supply of seeds year after year. Growers can propagate these varieties themselves, so they can repeatedly obtain seed and sow it again.
- Hybrid seeds have higher pest and disease resistance, growth vigour (heterosis), better chance of survival and yield.
Disadvantage
- OPVs lack uniformity and have lower disease resistance.
- Hybrid seeds are expensive and cannot be saved or replanted for future use.
Examples
- Examples of OPVs include common beans, soybeans, cowpeas, groundnuts, rice, wheat, barley, millet, and sorghum.
- Examples of hybrid seeds include corn, kale, carrots, onions, and tomatoes.
The following table summarizes the difference between OPV and hybrid seeds.
Summary – OPV vs Hybrid Seeds
Plant breeding is the science of changing the traits or characteristics of plants in order to produce desired characteristics. OPV and hybrid seeds are two terms that come under plant breeding. Open-pollinated plants are grown from seeds produced through the natural pollination of the parent plant, while hybrid seeds are created by deliberately cross-pollinating genetically distinct parent plants. This is the basic difference between OPVs and hybrid seeds
FAQ: OPV and Hybrid Seeds
1. What are the advantages of open-pollinated varieties?
- Open-pollinated varieties allow growers to breed and save their own seeds. Hence, the farmers can easily save the seeds from the crops they have grown and replant them for the next season. These varieties are also less expensive.
2. What are the disadvantages of open-pollinated seeds?
- The disadvantage of open-pollinated seeds is that they are often less vigorous than their hybrid counterparts. Moreover, their lack of uniformity can be disadvantageous for marketing purposes and growers using large machinery.
3. How to make your own hybrid plant?
- Hybrid plants can be made by following procedure; choosing the male and female plants correctly, removing the stamens from the female plants, cross pollinating the plants and ultimately growing and harvesting the fruit.
4. What are the benefits of hybrid seeds?
- Hybrid plants can be created by following a specific procedure: selecting the appropriate male and female plants, removing the stamens from the female plants, cross-pollinating the plants, and ultimately growing and harvesting the resulting fruit.
5. What are the problems with hybrid seeds?
- The disadvantage of hybrid seeds is that they do not breed true. If the farmers are trying to save seeds for the next planting season, they won’t get the same plant as they had originally. Moreover, these seeds are very expensive.
Reference:
1 “What Are Hybrid Seeds? Pros and Cons of Using It.” BAC Online.
2. “What Are Hybrid Seeds? Pros and Cons of Using It.” BAC Online.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Open-pollinated maize varieties” by International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (CC BY-NC 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Indo American Hybrid Seeds (2024) 96” By Gpkp – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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