Compared to F1 hybrid varieties, open-pollinated plants are noted for being what when grown from saved seed?

• A. More Vigorous
• B. More Uniform
• C. More Productive
• D. True-to-Type When Grown From Saved Seed

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that saved seeds from open-pollinated varieties tend to reproduce plants that resemble the parent, staying true to type across generations. Open-pollinated varieties are bred to maintain their characteristics when seed is saved and replanted, especially when proper isolation prevents cross-pollination. In contrast, F1 hybrids are created by crossing two distinct parent lines, so their first generation shows uniform, vigorous traits, but the seeds saved from an F1 plant don’t reliably carry the same combination of genes. The next generation (the offspring of the saved seed) segregates and varies, so you can’t expect the plant to look or perform exactly like the parent. That’s why open-pollinated plants are noted for being true-to-type when grown from saved seed.