897tgigvib
Garden Master
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2012
- Messages
- 5,439
- Reaction score
- 923
- Points
- 337
Subspecies is actually a very complex term, but it can be defined simply:
Subspecies usually look different, and may have different uses or niches, but within the same biological species, can more or less breed to produce viable offspring that may contribute to either parent's gene pool.
That really is oversimplifying it, but it works, and is still useful.
Among the true Brassicaceae Brassica Oleracea, as one of the most well known examples of subspecies, there are:
Kale, (the true oleracea kinds).
Collards
Cabbage
Brussels Sprouts
Kohlrabi
Broccoli
Cauliflower
These are all the same species, and can cross. They are each listed as "groups", which actually means a form of subspecies. The only difficulty found in crossing these is getting them to bloom at the same time, a doable thing by an experienced gardener, or may take some several tries. All the crosses are completely viable.
Subspecies is actually what the species of Roses are.
Now, there are further complex examples though.
What about the plants that are different Biological species that do cross, but make offspring that have double the chromosome number, and can cross with others that have been so crossed to also have double the chromosomes?
Wellp, as I see it, since they can't contribute any longer to either parent's gene pool, but can contribute to their own new gene pool, then those are new species. That does indeed happen. It is called a polyploid event. (Is that a new kind of festival???)
Polyploid events are one way nature has of suddenly creating a new species. Scientists can (somehow) tell if a species is a polyploid species, or even if it used to be a polyploid species. Ya see, after a species is polyploid for many many centuries, they often have a stabilizing chromosome event, and then are regular diploid species, but have evolved since, and so are different than they were.
That has indeed happened in the Brassicaceae family a lot in the past 22 million years. I was just a kid back then.
Bramble berries are another example of subspecies. Most of them worldwide will cross and produce viable offspring.
Believe it or not, this page is the simple version. This subject usually takes a semester's worth of study in population genetics in college.
I think this simple version works well enough for the average plant breeder. More advanced plant breeding altering tetraploidy to polyploid is hardly ever done by gardener plant breeders. But if it is, there are textbooks and college classes that will be needed for that.
Subspecies usually look different, and may have different uses or niches, but within the same biological species, can more or less breed to produce viable offspring that may contribute to either parent's gene pool.
That really is oversimplifying it, but it works, and is still useful.
Among the true Brassicaceae Brassica Oleracea, as one of the most well known examples of subspecies, there are:
Kale, (the true oleracea kinds).
Collards
Cabbage
Brussels Sprouts
Kohlrabi
Broccoli
Cauliflower
These are all the same species, and can cross. They are each listed as "groups", which actually means a form of subspecies. The only difficulty found in crossing these is getting them to bloom at the same time, a doable thing by an experienced gardener, or may take some several tries. All the crosses are completely viable.
Subspecies is actually what the species of Roses are.
Now, there are further complex examples though.
What about the plants that are different Biological species that do cross, but make offspring that have double the chromosome number, and can cross with others that have been so crossed to also have double the chromosomes?
Wellp, as I see it, since they can't contribute any longer to either parent's gene pool, but can contribute to their own new gene pool, then those are new species. That does indeed happen. It is called a polyploid event. (Is that a new kind of festival???)
Polyploid events are one way nature has of suddenly creating a new species. Scientists can (somehow) tell if a species is a polyploid species, or even if it used to be a polyploid species. Ya see, after a species is polyploid for many many centuries, they often have a stabilizing chromosome event, and then are regular diploid species, but have evolved since, and so are different than they were.
That has indeed happened in the Brassicaceae family a lot in the past 22 million years. I was just a kid back then.
Bramble berries are another example of subspecies. Most of them worldwide will cross and produce viable offspring.
Believe it or not, this page is the simple version. This subject usually takes a semester's worth of study in population genetics in college.
I think this simple version works well enough for the average plant breeder. More advanced plant breeding altering tetraploidy to polyploid is hardly ever done by gardener plant breeders. But if it is, there are textbooks and college classes that will be needed for that.
