What Is Used To Grow Seedless Fruit?

[kuntrygirl]

If some fruit are seedless, then what is used to grow them? Surely not seeds.

 

[itsy]

Just dig a big hole and plant the whole fruit!!

 

[1muttsfan]

Yep. They are a hybred cross that produces very few seeds, so are a dead-end genetically.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I always thought they were grafts? Most fruit varieties are since much fruit varieties do not reproduce true from seeds anyway.

 

[1muttsfan]

A graft will produce whatever kind of fruit it is genetically programmed to produce. Grafts are usually used to take advantage of a heathly, hardy disease-free and larger root system for shoots off another tree. The tree that produces the shoots is going to be the plant with fruits with very few (really not completely none) seeds. This plant is usually either a genetic anomaly, or a hybred cross that is relatively seedless. The tree that is used for the root system usually is vigourous with good roots but is not such a great producer itself. That is why the water sprouts (shoots at the base of the graft base) should be kept trimmed back, or they will overtake the grafted-on shoot.

Some very commonly used fruit trees have almost zero genetic diversity, as they are based on just one original plant that was used for grafts. These trees are basically clones and are not true breeding.

 

[sourland]

Vegetative propagation gets the job done. Grafting, layering, cuttings, etc all may work depending upon the plant to be propagated.

 

[pokey]

Did you know those expensive Japanese maples, Bradford pear trees and peach trees are grafted?

 

[happytraylz]

Interesting topic-guess I'd never thought about where my seedless fruit comes from..

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Well, as you can tell, I have been thinking and racking my brain as to how can they grow seedless fruit without having any seeds to grow it with.

 

[zzGypsy]

Quote:
Well, as you can tell, I have been thinking and racking my brain as to how can they grow seedless fruit without having any seeds to grow it with.

I always think... I'd like to plant some seedless watermelons... and then my brain stalls...