North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Douglas Hinds <cedecor@gmx.net>]

On 11/13/2012 9:08 PM, Ginda Fisher wrote:
> I, too, have personal experience, and my experience doesn't jib with yours. 
> For a number of practical reasons, I do prefer own-rooted plants in many 
> instances. But not for apples.
>
> Ginda
> eastern MA, zone 6
A very valid observation Ginda, one that I have not trouble accepting at 
all.

Regarding apples:  They will grow in the region of Mexico in which I am 
located (El Occidente), and I am familiar with the phenomena you 
describe, which suggests to me the following:  In order to grow apples 
from seed successfully (and thereby avoid the negative effects of 
grafting I am quite sure exist), an organized or institutional effort 
must be undertaken, so that desirable fruit capable of reproducing true 
to seed is either identified or developed over time.

Since grafted trees reproduce faster than seedlings, budwood from 
seedling trees with desirable fruit could be spliced into hardy seed 
rootstock (but without destroying the original tree).  If the progeny 
possesses similar or equally desirable characteristics, seed from those 
too could be planted out (or budwood taken from young trees growing from 
that seed) and tested until the genetic composition of the new seedling 
line becomes stabilized.

Alternatively, marker assisted breeding technologies could help identify 
promising individuals plants, once the genetic codes for specific 
desirable and undesirable traits have been located.

On the other hand, most of the areas in which I have lived (particularly 
during the second half of my life), do not loan themselves to (and are 
therefore unimportant for) apple production. (I suspect that most apples 
consumed in Mexico are imported from Washington, although the states of 
Chihuahua and Durango have a developed apple industry).

As a result, the seedling tree fruits that forms the basis of my diet 
(which varies from season to season), are: the Anona, Avocados, Black 
Sapote, Cherimoyas, Chico Sapotes, Figs, the Golden Spoon, Guavas, Key 
Limes, Mamey, Mango, the Pomegranate, Sweet Lime, White Sapote and 
Yellow Sapote.

Each of which presents it's own problems and idiosyncrasies, so it's 
really important to be able to count on a wide range and/or depth of 
sources of knowledge in order to avoid the "5 blind men and the 
elephant" syndrome (everybody's right, but no one knows the whole story).

After all, grafting and seed selection have the same goal in mind: The 
reproduction of fruit trees of predictable  and desirable quality.  But 
planting a seed is no more predictable (or controllable) than having a 
baby - you can't be sure about what you're going to get.  So you graft, 
and get a predictable result that by my standards includes an 
undesirable trait produced by grafting itself.  And no one has proven 
that one way or the other, which is what my 1973 CRFG Yearbook article 
called for:  Timely and In-depth Research that has yet to be carried out.

Other (non-tree) fruits consumed include: Bannanas, Berries, Cactus 
Pears, Grapes, Melons, Papaya, Peppers, Pineapple and Tomatoes; which 
either can't be (in the case of monocotyledons like bananas and 
pineapple) or are very rarely grafted (although grapes sometimes are).

As someone who has gone out of his way to procure fruit from seedling 
trees for 45 years and assiduously avoids eating fruit from grafted 
trees, I can say that in spite of the sacrifice that doing this has 
required, I'm 100 percent glad I did so and in fact, I believe that the 
time has come for me to pick up and carry this issue onward and place it 
in full view of the public and scientific eye. (Consider that to be an 
historical statement, like Babe Ruth did when he pointed his bat at the 
outfield fence).  However, I expect this to occur within the context of 
other development oriented projects we have underway and it doesn't 
matter how long it takes. (Disbelievers need not bother to comment, 
although I'm aware that nafex is open to the public). :-)

Douglas Hinds