Farmers traditionally kept some of the seeds from their best plants in one season to plant the following year. Now that farmers mostly plant hybrid seed this practice is no longer effective because ________.

Question

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Hybrid seeds are produced by crossing two genetically different parent plants, resulting in offspring (hybrids) that are heterozygous. These hybrids often exhibit desirable traits from both parents, such as increased yield or disease resistance. However, because they are heterozygous, they do not breed true; that is, if seeds from hybrid plants are saved and planted, the next generation of plants will not reliably exhibit the same desirable traits. This genetic variability makes saving seeds from hybrid plants for future planting ineffective for maintaining consistent crop quality.

Farmers Traditionally Kept Some of the Seeds from Their Best