Predetermined gender seeds?

[mamasharones]

I was recently looking at a seed catalogue and noticed that on one of the plants the company guarenteed female seeds (therefore only female plants). I'm studying biology right now and have had some botany but I still don't understand how seeds can have a predetermined gender. Anyone have info? Thanks

[toman]

I think I read a while back that they bombard them with some sort of radiation, and that while there may be no (or very few) males, some will be duds instead. I could be wrong though, I really don't know.

[delta9]

They are talking about femenized seeds (http://www.overgrow.com/growfaq/1638), which is basically starting from a female plant and forcing it to become hermaphrodite and pollinate itself and any other females around. If only females are around, the seeds you get will all be female and a couple hermaphrodites.

[mamasharones]

self fertilization won't result in ALL females. I have learned this through studying genetics. because even if the plant is polinating itself its still donating normal chromosomes and normal ratio of male and female sex chromosomes because a "female" plant is one who expresses the female genes, not one that only has them. but weed and other "sexed" plants just express female traits, they still have male genes that are not expressed. people like to think of plants like animals

[delta9]

Yes, well, that's why femenized seeds are simply a marketing tool, just like THC percentages - it means nothing because it's a fricken' plant, and growing plants is not always the most predictable of things (especially from F1 and F2 stock). :)

The femenized seeds do generally give a better ratio of female-to-male plants, though, this is verified by many people's experience, but not many I have heard of proclaiming getting 100% except for the seed dispensaries :p

[mamasharones]

Yes, that's what I thought. I didn't think there was a 100% chance of getting females there isn't even a 100% chance of germination (depending on the seeds condition of course)

I find it funny that a company would advertise this though