Intersexuality is a trait that can be expressed due to a multitude of causes, both genetic and environmental. There are intersex plants which are strictly genetic, these plants have inherited a gene that triggers the intersex condition, even given a perfect growing environment. Using selective breeding, the trait can be removed.
Ethylene is one of only a few know plant hormones, and plays many roles in plant development across a range of species. In **** one of ethylene's major roles is it's involvement in the determination of sex. It regulates which flowers should be pronounced - male or female. Applying high enough concentrations of ethylene to male plants will reverse their sex, turning male flowers into female flowers. Applying ethylene inhibiting agents will do the opposite, turning female flowers in to male flowers.
The creation of " feminized " seeds is done by obtaining pollen from a female plant and fertilizing another female plant. This is done using ethylene inhibiting agents to turn female flower into male flowers and then the pollen is collected.
There are 10 pairs of chromosomes in ****, the smallest pair are the sex chromosomes. Female plants have 2 copies of the X chromosome, therefore their genotype is XX.
Male plants have only 1 copy of the X chromosome, and a Y chromosome. The genotype of male plants in terms of sex chromosomes are XY.
When pollen is created within the plant, one of each of the chromosomes pairs is packaged in to cells that develop pollen. Each pollen grain contains 10 chromosomes, 1 copy of each pair.
So, when the pollen is obtained from a female and then used to pollinate another female the genetic makeup of those seeds will be XX and the chances of the intersexuality trait being expressed will be exponentially decreased.
Selective breeding is the most important part of this process, growing out as many as possible and looking for the 2 best females that do not express the intersex trait to begin with would yield the best chance for success.:bong2: