North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Louis Pittman <lucky.pittman@murraystate.edu>]

On Sun, May 1, 2011 at 2:00 PM, Dan Nave <nave1@comcast.net> wrote:

> What is a "budsport?"
>
> Dan,
A budsport is a genetic mutation which results in a different appearance.

The heartnut, with its distinctive valentine heart-shaped nut, is a genetic
mutation of the Japanese walnut, Juglans ailantifolia.  To my eye, heartnut
& Japanese walnut trees are essentially indistinguishable, but the nut of
the straight species looks very much like the typical butternut nut, if a
bit smaller.

Budsports have been selected and propagated throughout history - for
instance, the various increasingly redder and more conical sports of the
original Hawkeye Delicious which have yielded the Red Delicious most folks
are accustomed to seeing (and avoiding due to its abhorrent taste) in the
grocery.
Big Red Gala, Scarlet Gala, Red Fuji, Perrine Giant Yellow Transparent
apples, red D'Anjou pears, the Converse Major pecan, etc., all are budsports
which were noticed by someone - the fruit was different(bigger, different
color, etc.) on that one branch, and it was selected for propagation.

LLP