Joran's Seeds and Research

Development of naturalizable lettuce by self-seeding through hybridization with its wild ancestor ( Lactuca sativa subsp. serriola ). First published: December 3, 2023 On Joran's Seeds & Research blog: Last modified: December 22, 2024 Joran Marechal Joran's Seeds & Research Saint Vincent de Durfort, Ardèche department, France. Abstract: In an agroecological approach of permaculture or agroforestry, it is desirable to cultivate plants capable of naturalizing. However, cultivated lettuce ( Lactuca sativa subsp. sativa ) presents a very strong barrier to spontaneous propagation: its flower heads remain closed after the seeds have matured, so the latter cannot fly away as those of their wild ancestor would do. ( Lactuca sativa subsp. serriola ). While this characteristic resulting from human selection is essential in conventional cultivation systems since it facilitates the harvesting of seeds and avoids the uncontrolled propagation of plants, it is however less relevant in...