Producing High-quality Seeds of an Heirloom Cabbage in Different Crop Management Systems

Abstract

Small- to midsized farmers in the southeastern United States have expressed interest in reigniting on-farm seed production of regionally adapted high-value vegetable crops. However, a considerable knowledge gap exists related to how locally produced seeds perform in the region. We investigated how the first generation of local, farm-produced seeds compared with the original, nonlocal, certified commercial seed stock in terms of initial germination, seedling vigor, and subsequent vegetative traits of ‘Yukina Savoy’ (Brassica rapa L.), an heirloom Chinese cabbage. Locally produced seeds consistently outperformed seeds of the commercial lot. Germination for local and nonlocal seeds reached 99% and 94%, respectively. However, locally produced seeds germinated 1.5-fold more rapidly than nonlocal seeds, and germination was more uniform in local seeds. Seedlings produced from local seeds appeared more vigorous and displayed a significant height advantage compared with nonlocal seeds when grown in the greenhouse. Likewise, transplants from local seeds maintained an advantage over transplants from nonlocal seeds for plant vigor, growth traits, and harvestable yield during the 4-week field cultivation period. We conclude that production of high-quality ‘Yukina Savoy’ seeds is possible in the southeastern region despite challenging environmental conditions and varied farming practices of our partners during the seed production cycle.

Home food gardening in modern cities: advances, issues, and future perspectives

“…In order to achieve commercialization, the majority of seeds available for sale are hybrid seeds. These seeds are unable to produce viable seeds in the second generation due to the presence of multiple divergent characteristics in the fruits, such as varied colors, shapes, sizes, flavors, and textures (Osmani et al, 2023). Therefore, growers are required to purchase new seeds every year, particularly in regions with well-established formal seed systems (Osmani et al, 2023).…”

“…These seeds are unable to produce viable seeds in the second generation due to the presence of multiple divergent characteristics in the fruits, such as varied colors, shapes, sizes, flavors, and textures (Osmani et al, 2023). Therefore, growers are required to purchase new seeds every year, particularly in regions with well-established formal seed systems (Osmani et al, 2023). In contrast, heirloom varieties can be preserved by seed owners for generations (Jordan, 2007).…”