Are all disease-resistant seeds genetically modified?

littlemommy1

My Gurney's catalog went straight to the recycling. I do not want anything in my garden this year from a Monsanto owned business. I found a list of seeds places not owned by them, but found some seeds to be "disease resistant." Does this mean they are genetically modified? I thought I read once that those words are clues linked to that.

Dr.Loretta

I guess it would depend on how they define genetic modification. Crossbreeding has been going on for centuries, which is a form of genetic modification. So I'm sure there are plants that have been cross-bred specifically for disease resistance.

kastle

Hybridizing is not considered GMO.  Here's a pretty good discussion on the matter:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/139536-hybrid-vegetable-vs-genetically-modified/

Disease resistance for non-commodity crops are *usually* done via hybridizing (whether it was a bee or a plant breeder doing it...)

Heirloom or organic seeds are a way to avoid genetic modification (but not hybridization).

CollegeGrrl219

kastle:

Hybridizing is not considered GMO.  Here's a pretty good discussion on the matter:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/139536-hybrid-vegetable-vs-genetically-modified/

Disease resistance for non-commodity crops are *usually* done via hybridizing (whether it was a bee or a plant breeder doing it...)

Heirloom or organic seeds are a way to avoid genetic modification (but not hybridization).

Thanks for enlightening me.

kastle

CollegeGrrl219:

kastle:

Hybridizing is not considered GMO.  Here's a pretty good discussion on the matter:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/139536-hybrid-vegetable-vs-genetically-modified/

Disease resistance for non-commodity crops are *usually* done via hybridizing (whether it was a bee or a plant breeder doing it...)

Heirloom or organic seeds are a way to avoid genetic modification (but not hybridization).

Thanks for enlightening me.

It can be really confusing. If you ever have a question about how a seed was created, you can always try to contact the manufacture if you really want to make sure. And, some seed companies "guarantee" that their seeds haven't been genetically modified...that might be something you may want to look into.

littlemommy1

Thanks!