Quote:
Originally Posted by RigglePLC
I don't think the work "hybrid" applies to most types of grass seed. It is probably more of a selection from the best progeny of many attempts at hand pollination of Texas bluegrass and other superior types in the green house.
Hybrid refers to corn where one inbred line is crossed or "hybridized" with pollen from a second inbred line. Self pollenization must be prevented during seed production.
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The hybrid term certainly can apply to some varieties, but you're right that it does not apply to all. However, in this case, 'Thermal Blue' and 'Thermal Blue Blaze' are true hybrids -- they are crosses between Kentucky bluegrass (
Poa pratensis) and Texas bluegrass (
Poa arachnifera).
Because
Poa species are largely apomictic, they don't usually cross interspecifically in nature. In fact, the man who pioneered sexual hybridization of
Poa species, Dr. Reed Funk of Rutgers University, passed away just this week. Anyhow, the crosses only haveto be made once, then the seed produced by the daughter plants is always genetically identical to the parent, so the cross doesn't have to be done every year.
This isn't the case with all plants, though, as some are only incrossers, some are only outcrossers, and others have a blend of the three.