Discussion
Seed companies will sell you seeds that are disease / bug / weedkiller resistant but, and it's a big but, they are engineered so they won't reproduce so you have to buy more next year etc. Not sure how that works with grapes but it's how a lot of crops work. I think Monsanto are into this. National Geographic magazine had a very good article on this some time ago.
s etc.....
amusingduck said:
So if they're all grown from cuttings presumably they're genetically identical clones, doesn't that cause some issues with disease resistance as if something crops up that they're vulnerable to you loose the whole lot rather than evolving a plant that's resistant.
RizzoTheRat said:
So if they're all grown from cuttings presumably they're genetically identical clones, doesn't that cause some issues with disease resistance as if something crops up that they're vulnerable to you loose the whole lot rather than evolving a plant that's resistant.
It happens, I think in grapes as well but I struggle to find a link.Genetic modification can reduce certain susceptibilities though. So they can still have a strong net advantage.
More importantly by not allowing successive generations of plants, companies can ensure that poor farmers around the world have to buy their products, and struggle to feed their communities.
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