nonhybrid

Nonhybrid is a term used in genetics and agriculture to describe organisms or seeds that are not products of deliberate crossbreeding between distinct lineages. In seed trade, nonhybrid commonly refers to open-pollinated or self-pollinated varieties whose offspring tend to inherit traits from the parent when seeds are saved, producing plants that are true-to-type. This contrasts with F1 hybrids, which are the first generation resulting from crossbreeding and often do not breed true when saved.

Open-pollinated varieties are valued by seed savers and gardeners because they can be propagated generation after generation with predictable traits, and seeds can be saved at low cost. They also enable local adaptation, as plants reproduce under local conditions. Nonhybrid seeds are frequently marketed as open-pollinated (OP) or heirloom varieties; however, open-pollinated does not necessarily mean old—some newer OP lines exist.

Limitations of nonhybrid varieties include potential less uniformity in plant size and fruit, and sometimes lower yield or disease resistance compared with certain hybrids. Yet for many gardeners, the trade-off—stability, seed saving, and genetic diversity—is acceptable or preferred. Nonhybrid breeding can still involve deliberate selection and improvement, but without cross between distinct lines for each generation.

Beyond plants, the term can also describe individuals in animal breeding that are not the result of crossbreeding, although this usage is less common.