To: mailing list at ibiblio - Northamerican Allied Fruit Experimenters <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [nafex] My persimmons appear to be breaking the rules
Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2015 15:51:18 -0400
Hi folks,
I have a single /D. virginiana/ (90 chromosome selected variety), Yates,
on my property. I have multiple endemic /D. virginiana/ trees that with
their small, astringent fruit, I am assuming are all 60 chromosome
trees.I have multiple /D. kakis/ (all grafted, fruit bearing trees) that
I have planted in my orchard as well.
For the last 2 years, my Yates has produced fruit that contains
abundant, full-sized seeds. My understanding is that the endemic 60
chromosome trees will not pollinate the 90 chromosome varieties and
produce full-sized viable seeds. However, all my kakis are all
presumably ‘females’ as they are grafted, fruit-bearing varieties.
It does not make sense to me given my current understanding of
persimmons that my Yates fruit would all be full of seeds. Are the seeds
somehow /kaki /x /virginiana/ crosses?
I am not aware of any nonnative persimmons among the neighboring
properties within at least 1 mile...