Hybrid Seeds vs. GMO Seeds

Main Difference

The main difference between hybrid seeds and GMO seed is that hybrid seed is produced by cross-pollinated plant whereas GMO seed is produced through genetic modification.

Difference Between Hybrid Seeds and GMO Seeds

Comparison Chart

Hybrid Seed vs. GMO Seed

A hybrid seed is produced when two genetically different plants from the same species are cross-pollinated. Pollen from the male fertilizes gamete from the female ovaries in pollination to produce offspring seeds which are hybrid. In GMO, recombinant DNA technology is involved in splicing together of genes of an organism to result in a transgenic organism. Expensive lab techniques are used to produce genetically modified organisms.

Hand emasculation and sex modification techniques used by farmers to produce hybrid seeds. The manual removal of the plant’s male gametes is called emasculation. Sex modification is another technique used by farmers for direct plant breeding. In this technique, plant nutrition, light and temperature exposure, and phytohormones are changed for sex expression control. In GMO, Gene guns, microinjection, and electroporation are some techniques for introducing foreign genetic material into the genome. Gene guns are used to introduce genes into the DNA in a crop such as wheat or maize. In this, DNA is bound to tungsten or gold particles which are accelerated at high energy levels and penetrate the cell wall and membrane where it is integrated into the nucleus. Microinjection directly inserts the genetic material whereas electroporation uses pores to insert genes. TALEN and CRISPR are two recently introduced technologies for genetically modified organisms.

What is Hybrid Seed?

Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel’s theories developed hybridization in the mid-1800s. They used corn detasseling first time in which mother corn plant’s pollens are removed and planted between rows of father plants and ensure that pollination occurs only from father pollens. Seeds harvested from the mother plants are called hybrids. Hybrid seeds are produced by using traditional breeding procedures in which two different but compatible plants are crossbred to produce a new plant which is also called a hybrid. There are many benefits of producing hybrid seed varieties for example more vigorous plants, earlier maturities, improved disease resistance, enhanced crop yield, more uniform plant growth, newer flower colors and enhanced taste of vegetables and fruits. Roses, corn, and tomatoes are some examples of hybrid seeds. There are many hybrid roses to single out a specific variety. Silver queen is a white kernel sweet corn. This hybrid of corn is trendy among home garden corns. Double sweet, Kandy King, Kandy Korn, and many other extra sweet verities are hybrid.

Similarly, there is a wide range of hybrid tomato varieties such as beef maestro, celebration and container’s choice red. Honeycrisp apple is an example of a hybrid plant. University of Minnesota’s apple breeding program has developed this plant. Honeycrisp is a hybrid created by breeding two different apples to form a new, crisper and juicer type of apple.

What is GMO Seed?

GMO stands for the genetically modified organism, and it describes an organism formed through genetic modification. Genetic modifications refer to seeds in case of plants. GMO seeds grow in the ground like any other seeds, but the only difference is that they have certain traits. A GMO seed is produced when researchers take a beneficial trait from one living thing and adapt that trait or characteristic to a plant. GMO seeds grow into plants that might better suffer limited water conditions or better withstand challenges like harmful insects, disease or weeds. GMO seeds have been used by farmers for almost 20 years. However, seeds have actually been modified through traditional plant breeding techniques for hundreds of years. Today’s Fruits like watermelon and bananas are results of conventional plant breeding techniques and different from earlier fruits. Modern GMO seeds can also be the result of traditional plant breeding that adds the desired traits to plants.

Through GMO techniques, two genes are added to a rice plant, and then rice is able to accumulate beta carotene in its grains. Humanitarians and scientists believe this new type of rice called Golden Rice can enhance vitamin A in people’s diet and help to prevent childhood blindness. Similarly, genetically modified corn is designed to have a bacterial toxin grow inside each corn kernel. This toxin meant to attack corn’s greatest predator, the corn rootworm. This rootworm attacks the roots of the corn plant and kills it by doing weakness. GMO corn is engineered to produce a bacterial toxin inside each kernel.

Conclusion

It has concluded that hybrid seeds and GMO seeds are produced by cross-pollination and DNA recombination respectively to get desired traits or improved quality plants.