Hybrids do not need to be crosses between two species. They can be anything
from crosses between two genera to two different inbred lines of the same
species.

An F1 hybrid simply means it is the first filial generation of a hybrid
cross. Hybrid vigor is the result of complimentary heterozygosity from
crossing two different cultivar lines. However, the crossing of two
different cultivar lines does not always result in hybrid vigor.

A plant family is a completely different entity from an inbred cultivar line
of a species.

The reason that most melons can interbreed so freely is they represent
different cultivar groups (inbred lines) of the same species.


"Atar" wrote in message
...
Your other repliers already warned you about the hybridity of commercial
cantaloup seed. They aren't true hybrids, they are "F1 hybrids" (usually),
which is almost the opposite in meaning of a true hybrid. They are not
crosses of 2 different species, but on the contrary highly in-bred.

The breeders in-breed several different families (so to speak) for several
generations, then out-breed the offspring. This does two things: any "bad"
genetic traits tend to show up (they are less likely to remain hidden in
recessive alleles) because they are so highly inbred. This is like the
propensity of some of the royal families in Europe to have hemophilia. The
bad traits are weeded out, and after a few generations you get rid of most
of them. Then the different inbred strains are crossed with each other,
which tends to cover up any remaining weaknesses to produce what is called
"hybrid vigor".

The generations of inbreeding also tend to produce extremely uniform
plants,
which the farmers like, because they are fairly predictable in terms of
size, color, maturity, quality, etc.

The next generation, that you will be planting, are called "F2". They will
be more variable, although are often quite good and the seed is much
cheaper than F1. Save the seeds from your favorite fruits of your favorite
plants, and just keep doing this from generation to generation. They will
eventually stabilize.

As for real hybrids, yes you do have to keep different kinds of melons
separate or you can end up with hybrid melons with odd, "muddy" flavors.

Bon appetit.

Atar

Peter wrote:

Hi,

I live in Thailnad where it is not easy to just order things like
fruit seeds. Could someone point me to a site or explain just what I
need to prepare cantaloupe seeds from a fruit for planting?

Thanks,

Peter

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