North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Keith Benson <kgbenson@mindspring.com>]

> > Earlier fruiting may be tied to the advanced cellular clock of the 
> > scion,
> > but it does not seem to shorten the lifespan of the tree.
> >
> > Anyone know the reason?

Does the cellular clock in plants, specifically pome fruits include 
scenesce genes?  If not then the thing would essentially go on until 
random mutations eliminated all of the cultuvars - and that could take a 
while - especially with people culling off types (eliminating mutations).  

There are those who even argue that there are some vertebrates that do 
not become scenescent (larger turtles and tortoises for example).  Not 
everyone may be pre-programmed to fall apart.

Keith