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Creative_soja t1_j3sra3e wrote

Reply to comment by bmullan in Scientists have created hybrid rice that can be propagated with high efficiency as clonal seed. This means the benefits of a high-yield hybrid can be kept from season to season without breeding new hybrids. by andyhfell

Well. His contribution is somewhat overhyped, at least in South Asian context. Had it not been groundwater, pumps, and electricity, those high yield hybrids would not have been successful. So, it wasnt as much green revolution as it was water pump revolution, and to some extent fertilizer revolution.

I suspect the same with most of such high yield seed varieties. They are often fertilizer and water intensive in reality, if not in labs, which defeats the purpose of having such seeds if you have unpredictable water supply.

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RobfromHB t1_j3svyom wrote

Those are impactful aspects, but separate from hybridization. A variety with poor genetic potential grown in optimal conditions will still yield poorly.

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