In agriculture and gardening, hybrid seed is produced by deliberately cross-pollinating parent plants which are genetically distinct.
It is one of the main contributors to the dramatic rise in agricultural output during the last half of the 20th century.
[2] An important factor is the heterosis that results from the genetic differences between the parents, which can produce higher yield and faster growth rate.
[2] Other characteristics of the parents are carefully chosen to provide desirable traits such as improved color, flavour, or disease resistance.
It is therefore rarely desirable to save the seeds from hybrid plants to start the next crop.