Sage-Tips

Are all seeds in an apple genetically identical?

The art of grafting fruit trees has allowed growers and breeders to have a say in how long of an appearance a particular apple variety makes on this planet, but the principle remains the same: inside each apple seed of every single apple that has ever existed, lies the potential for uniqueness.

Are seeds from the same fruit genetically identical?

I imagine there is a great deal of genetic variation in pretty much any pomegranate variety. Some plants do produce twin seeds, called polyembryonic. They are easy to recognize since you will see two embryos inside one seed coat (try opening some mango seeds and you’ll almost certainly find some like this).

Why are apple seeds genetically different?

There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of Apples. This broad range of varieties arises from the need of Apples to cross pollinate in order to produce fruit and seed. Each of these genetic crosses produces a unique set of genes, giving rise to a broad range of cultivars.

Why are apple seeds not true?

Apple trees don’t grow “true-to-type,” as WSU tree fruit breeder Kate Evans explains. That means that if you were to plant, for instance, Red Delicious seeds in your backyard, you wouldn’t get Red Delicious apples. But matching up the scion and rootstock isn’t enough to grow good apples.

Can I plant an apple tree from an apple seed?

It is possible to grow an apple tree from an apple seed. Apple seeds need to be exposed to cool, moist conditions before they will germinate. The cool, moist requirement can be accomplished by planting apple seeds outdoors in fall. Plant the seeds 1/2 inch deep.

Are all apples clones?

Cloning is the production of an offspring that is the genetic twin of one of its parents. All apple varieties, all grapes, potatoes, strawberries and some other plants are produced by asexual propagation of clones.

What fruits are not true to seed?

Apples and pears are never true to seed but tamarillos can be grown from seed. Apricots, peaches and nectarines grow fairly true to seed, some say plums do too. They wont be exact but often quite close.

Will the fruits shown always have the same number of seeds?

Not all fruits contain the same number of seeds. Fruits such as tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, and melons usually have lots of seeds. Generally, oranges, apples, and pears contain about 10 seeds. Other fruits, such as avocados, plums, and peaches, have only one seed.

Why can’t you grow an apple tree from a seed?

It is possible to grow an apple tree from an apple seed. However, in most cases, apple trees don’t come true from seeds. Apple seeds need to be exposed to cool, moist conditions before they will germinate. The cool, moist requirement can be accomplished by planting apple seeds outdoors in fall.

Why are some fruits not true to seed?

Open pollinated plants, which include heirlooms, will almost always grow true to seed if another variety does not cross-pollinate them. These seeds will never grow true. Fruit seeds rarely produce a similar tree or fruit as the parent. That is one of the many reasons fruit trees are usually grafted.

Can I grow an apple tree from a seed?

Yes you can grow apple trees from the pips inside ripe apple fruits, but if you want a reliable crop of tasty apples it’s not the best way to get started. If you have a large area and want to experiment then planting any trees from seeds, pips and nuts is fun and a great long-term project for the kids.

Why can’t you grow apple trees from seeds?