North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Elizabeth <ehilborn@mebtel.net>]

Hi folks,
I previously posted in 2014 that I was perplexed why my 'Yates' 
persimmon contained seeds for the first time since I planted it. The 
tree has been bearing for about 4 years total. I live in an area with 
only 60 chromosome natives. There are no other 90 chromosome trees 
nearby (to my knowledge) except in my orchard. In 2014 these consisted 
of 3 selected varieties of grafted female kakis, 2 of which were old 
enough to bloom, and the Yates.

Last year each Yates fruit contained 5 - 6 fully formed seeds. This 
year, they contain an average of about 1 seed per fruit. Most fruits are 
seedless, some have had up to 3 seeds per fruit.

What has changed: I performed winter pruning this spring so it is 
possible that I pruned off a branch on a tree that had previously 
produced male flowers. I lost my Wase Fuyu during our unusually cold 
winter so it did not produce flowers this spring. The third kaki 
produced blooms for the first time in 2015.

What I discovered: I evaluated each surviving persimmon tree for male 
flowers this spring. I detected none. Although I was looking for sports, 
so if I saw a branch covered with female flowers, I did not examine each 
flower on the branch, it is possible that I missed individual male 
flowers (if that occurs).

I propagated every seed from the 2014 Yates crop. I guess I will find 
out what the 2014 pollinizer was in 8 years or so!

Betsy Hilborn
7a Central NC