Can Cross Pollination Effect the Flavour of Citrus (forum)
45 responses
Don Weber starts with ...
I have lime, lemon, tangelo, and grapefruit planted next to each other. If they were to cross pollinate would it change the flavour of the fruit?
Time: 30th January 2008 8:47am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author D1
Citrus Springs, Fl
#UserID: 625
Posts: 1
View All D1's Edible Fruit Trees
Correy says...
Hi Don,
This is a very interesting question and one that I had to ask a few people to understand.
Let me summarise your question.
Can the pollen of one type of citrus eg a grapefruit pollinate another type of citrus eg an orange and effect the flavour of the fruit.
The answer is No, Unless you eat the seed.
Let me explain.
When the bee takes the pollen of a grapefruit and pollinates an orange what happens is that the orange flower acting as a female in this case pollinates and this newly formed seed has the genetic make up of the grapefruit and the orange.
Now as this orange forms the flesh that forms around the seed is totally maternal or only from the orange tree. Similar to how in humans the water surrounding the baby in the womb is a product only of the mother.
So when the fruit is fully formed the orange flesh will always have the same flavour as the tree it is from. However the seed has half the genetic make up of the orange and half the genetic make up of the grapefruit which has developed into it's own totally unique new seed. Very similar to how half the chromosomes of the man and women form a totally unique baby with some characteristic's from both parents.
This is why you can't plant an orange seed and expect it to grow into an orange tree exactly like it's parent tree. It could be as in our case a mixture between a grapefruit and an orange.
Which bring us to another question what about Nuts where you are actually eating the seed? Is it possible that your scenario could effect the taste of a nut?
I think that the answer to this question is Yes in a few scenarios.
Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1
Time: 1st February 2008 7:34am
Reply | LIKE this Answer(2) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
People who Like this Answer: Thao,
About the Author CorreyWoolloongabba, QLD
#UserID: 3
Posts: 493
View All Correy's Edible Fruit Trees
naveed says...
yes
Time: 3rd March 2009 2:19am
Reply | Edit |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees
Julie says...
I have Valencia orange, grapefruit and Navel orange not far from one another, plus an ex-grapefruit (now bush lemon stock). They taste the same from year to year, and have never affected each other.
Time: 6th March 2009 6:21pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author Julie
Roleystone
#UserID: 154
Posts: 1842
View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees
Tom R says...
The explanation sounds logical, but does not match my experiece. I have a lemon tree planted next to an orange tree and every year the lemons are great but the oranges taste much more like lemons than oranges, so much so that they are not edible.
Time: 6th February 2010 6:24am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author Tom R
Roseville, CA
#UserID: 3345
Posts: 1
View All Tom R's Edible Fruit Trees
Wayne says...
Hello Tom, this might be of interest to you
"How do I sweeten my oranges and mandarins. They usually are slightly sour and acid to eat.
Comments
Mix 60gms of Magnesium sulphate [Epsom salts] 30 mls wetting agent to 4.5L water spray foliage and fruit twice weekly for three weeks. Also apply Magnesium sulphate [Epsom salts] to the soil under the canopy one clenched handful per sq metre." --- I think one handfull is a bit much so perhaps 1/2 to try first.
or
"Sour fruit - Sprinkle about six handfuls of sulphate of potash around the tree and then water in with two teaspoons of Epsom salts mixed into 10 litres of water"
Time: 6th February 2010 8:45am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(1) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
People who Like this Answer: Thao
Original Post was last edited: 6th February 2010 8:50am
About the Author Wayne
Mackay QLD
#UserID: 338
Posts: 908
View All Wayne's Edible Fruit Trees
kiarasmommy says...
my gram had a lemon tree next to a grape fruit tree this year only 1 lemon grew and it is huge one side smells like a lemon rine and the other side grape fruit. the pic above is the lemon not quiet ripe yet. next to a home grown florida orange
Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1
Time: 21st January 2011 8:25am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author kiarasmommy
ma
#UserID: 4813
Posts: 1
View All kiarasmommy's Edible Fruit Trees
Vita N. says...
I just picked what looked to be exactly like an orange from my grapefruit tree (there is an orange tree next to it). It looked like an orange both inside and out and tasted a bit like one as well (it had a bit of weather damage so was not completely edible).
Time: 21st April 2011 12:20pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author Vita N1
Phoenix
#UserID: 5213
Posts: 1
View All Vita N1's Edible Fruit Trees
MaryT says...
I think they do cross but perhaps not as readily as say, chilies (these needs to be caged to prevent crossing) and even if the flavour of the crossed fruit resembles the host tree, as Correy suggests, the appearance of the fruit would certainly look odd compared to the other fruit on that tree. This I see from experience with my two different cumquats. When they are in flower at the same time, some fruit on the Nagami becomes round instead of oval. Mind you I have no proof that that is the result of crossing. I just celebrate the differences :)
Time: 21st April 2011 2:12pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author MaryT
Sydney
#UserID: 5412
Posts: 2066
View All MaryT's Edible Fruit Trees
IanH says...
If I have an orange tree that appears to be cross pollinated and all the fruit tastes like lemons, can I use the fruit like Lemons?
With my lemon tree I normally cure the lemons to make chutney, do you think I could do the same with the oranges? At least this way I'd be able to make use of the fruit.
Time: 18th July 2011 10:07am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author IanH
Sydney
#UserID: 5555
Posts: 1
View All IanH's Edible Fruit Trees
MaryT says...
You can use the fruit however you like as long as they display the qualities you are looking for. I made a mixed citrus marmalade from Smooth Seville, Eureka lemons, Australian cumquats and nagami cumquats this year and it is the best I've ever had. Chemistry!
The sourness of your oranges may not be due to crossing though. Some people suggests giving it Epsom salts to 'sweeten' the fruit on another link.
Time: 18th July 2011 10:15am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author MaryT
Sydney
#UserID: 5412
Posts: 2066
View All MaryT's Edible Fruit Trees
jakfruit etiquette says...
In Kaki Persimmons, the presence of seeds formed after polination does affect fruit ripening and astringency, ie some normally seedless, non astringent Kaki cultivars will develop not so high quality fruit if pollinated and develop seed( enzymes from the seed now influence fruit ripening)
I've not heard of this in Citrus,I don't think growing oranges next to lemons makes them sour, you would have to eliminate many other factors(season, rootstock, time of picking, rootstock suckers that fruit)before pollination could be considered
But, if your Citrus are excessively seedy due to pollination, the extra pectin may affect your marmalade batch/??
Time: 19th July 2011 7:41am
Reply | Edit |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author
oz
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees
Speedy says...
Apart from very few exceptions, the fruit are not affected in any way.
The only way that pollen from another tree will have any bearing on taste of fruit is in the progeny, ie. fruit from trees grown from seeds of cross pollinated fruits.
As Jackfruit etiquette said, persimmons are an exception to the rule....their colour is also changed by the presence of seeds.
I had heard many years ago that Date (Phoenix dactylifera) fruit quality can be determined by pollen quality and thus superior male trees have been selected over generations in Middle East and Nth Africa.
I dont know whether this is true or not, though it could be just the quantity of pollen
and duration of pollen shedding that are the traits that are selected for....
Time: 19th July 2011 9:06am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author Speedy
Nthn Vic.
#UserID: 2305
Posts: 253
View All Speedy's Edible Fruit Trees
Fred says...
I have had the same lime tree for 20 years. Last year I obtained a tangerine and mandarin orange. This year the limes are larger and taste like oranges. Can anyone explain this to me.
Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1
Time: 2nd November 2011 9:26am
Reply | Edit |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author
Texas
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees
David says...
I have just eaten an orange purchased from the supermarket, oranges imported from the USA #3107. The orange tasted like a grapefruit, no question about it. It has to be cross fertilisation - and it must be rare since I have never had this happen before.
Time: 17th January 2012 7:47pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author David36
New Zealand
#UserID: 6416
Posts: 1
View All David36's Edible Fruit Trees
Mike says...
Like Correy said the pollen can't influence the taste of the materal fruit only subsequent generations.Citrus is like a superspecies where they can all cross freely and oranges and lemons have very tangled parentages.They are mostly mutants with a wide range of genes.Phenotypic plasticity of oranges and lemons means their characteristics/genetic expression changes with their environment and even between seasons.Flesh colour,sourness,skin and size can be dramatically effected by the weather.Sorry about that tangled explanation for what could be going on.
Time: 17th January 2012 11:56pm
Reply | Edit |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author
Cairns
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees
MaryT says...
I get you, Mike. The odd fruit may be a 'throw back'? That's why it's worth saving the seeds of the 'odd' fruit (if it display desirable qualities) and see if they fruit the same way?
Time: 18th January 2012 7:11am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author MaryT
Sydney
#UserID: 5412
Posts: 2066
View All MaryT's Edible Fruit Trees
denise says...
The flavor of some fruit can sometimes be affected by the rootstock and it may vary. Anyone growing say orange seeds from a store bought fruit probably wont get a hybrid as they will be from a large 'single species 'planting. It is best to take seed from a close planting of two or more different kinds of citrus to get some nice hybrids. Some cultivars of citrus-especially some orange or lemon are polyembronic, which means that the seed is a jigsaw puzzle of several seed pieces of which typically only one will be a new pollenated seed from pollenation and all the rest will be replicas of the parent and are guarateed to be as good as a grafted tree the same as the tree it came from. I hope I have described it well.
Time: 18th January 2012 9:27am
Reply | Edit |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees
Mike says...
They might be polyembryonic but if they are mutation derived like navel and have outcrossed it is a longshot that they will be true to type.Stable seedling lines are a different story.
Time: 18th January 2012 5:47pm
Reply | Edit |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author
Cairns
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees
rbrinlee says...
I have a grapefruit, orange, lemon and lime trees planted within 15 ft of each other and all are 5 years old. I have yet to harvest anything that does not taste like a lemon. The only characteristic that is normal is the shape of fruit. Otherwise the fruit is yellow and tastes like lemons.
I have made sure the fruit not from below the graft by removing suckers.
Have to believe it's from pollination, flowering is at the same time? Any ideas, I am ready to pull out the lemon tree.
Time: 10th June 2012 7:32am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author rbrinlee
Clovis, Ca
#UserID: 7011
Posts: 1
View All rbrinlee's Edible Fruit Trees
trikus says...
Seems mind over matter is influencing our American friends taste buds ;-(
And nothing we say will change their minds . Both Corey and Speedy have given perfectly clear explanations .
Time: 10th June 2012 9:58am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author Trikus
Tully
#UserID: 930
Posts: 749
View All Trikus's Edible Fruit Trees
Mike says...
It seems impossible for the pollen to influence the flavour of the maternally derived edible fruit portion.I am told by a seasoned campaigner that if annonas are successfully x pollinated with pond apple the seeds are infertile and the flesh is spongy and unpalatable.I am thus wavering and only 99% sure now that it is not the case with citrus ever.
Time: 10th June 2012 10:18am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author
Cairns
#UserID: 5418
Posts: 1438
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees
MaryT says...
I have oranges, lemons, cumquats, limes, lemonade, tangello, grapefruit, citron and mandarins all jammed up against one another in pots so it would be interesting to see what happens.
Since x pollination should not affect the fruit of the parent tree and any new characteristics should only show up in subsequent seedlings, I cannot work out why my nagami cumquat which were olive shaped would now be round like calamondins.
So far all the fruit taste sour but make wonderful mixed citrus marmalade.
Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1 
Picture: 2 
Picture: 3
Time: 10th June 2012 11:06am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
Original Post was last edited: 10th June 2012 12:31pm
About the Author MaryT
Sydney
#UserID: 5412
Posts: 2066
View All MaryT's Edible Fruit Trees
Julie says...
I have oranges and grapefruit very close together (too close!) and mandarins not far away. Never noticed any affect from one to the other.
The oranges taste like oranges, the grapefruit taste like grapefruit, and same for the mandarin.
Time: 10th June 2012 8:26pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
#UserID: 154
Posts: 1842
View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees
MaryT says...
And that's as it should be, Julie, according to the science but nature has its own ideas at times. I celebrate all its quirkiness.
Time: 11th June 2012 9:46am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author MaryT
Sydney
#UserID: 5412
Posts: 2066
View All MaryT's Edible Fruit Trees
jakfruitetiquette says...
If you eat an orange first, then a lemon immeadiatly after, the lemon will taste sweeter. If you then eat another orange,it will taste sourer than the first orange!
Time: 11th June 2012 1:05pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author jakfruitetiquette
#UserID: 6820
Posts: 43
View All jakfruitetiquette's Edible Fruit Trees
debby says...
I have a Lemmon tree & an orange tree. They are in pots are taller then me and flower beautifully. The fruit never gets larger then pea size then fall off. I've tried everything to keep them on but am always disappointed. I live in Seattle. Weather doesn't get too cold there but I put them in garage in winter if we have a frost.
They are in full bloom now. How do I keep fruit on till it matures?
Time: 18th June 2013 5:38pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author debby
#UserID: 8060
Posts: 1
View All debby's Edible Fruit Trees
Anonymous says...
Do you have Pond Apple specimens?
If so can you post for a fee?
Time: 22nd July 2013 3:58pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author 87
#UserID: 8080
Posts: 7
View All 87's Edible Fruit Trees
skipster says...
I've had a grapefruit tree in Arizona that I planted about 10-12 years ago. Have had consistently abundant fruit over the past several years. Just picked more than 200 grapefruit & give most to friends, family and the local food bank. Noticed 4 that had more of the skin color and shape / size of oranges. (Have two orange trees within 15 feet.) Suspected cross-pollination. All trees were blooming at the same time. Cut them open and tasted the fruit, which had more of an orange color than the grapefruit... and also a distinctly orange/grapefruit taste than the grapefruit. More sweetness. Must add that I'm an award-winning chef, so I have a well-developed sense of smell and taste. No question there was a taste of the orange flavor here. Saving the seeds and will grow them out. Will have to wait and see, but am excited by the prospects. I'm certain that these were somehow affected. (As Mary T says, "Nature has its own ideas at times.") Something new for me, and I'm looking forward to my orange/grapefruit tree(s) in a few years.
Time: 28th January 2015 7:36am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author skipster
Phoenix AZ
#UserID: 11180
Posts: 1
View All skipster's Edible Fruit Trees
jakfruit etiquette says...
Are the odd fruit all from the same branch on the tree ? Citrus do sometimes sprout rootstock suckers, in AZ you may have a sour orange type rootstock for your GF, which would be a bit like the fruit you describe.Try to find some seville and kinkoji fruit and see how they compare. Also Citrus also produce limb sports, ie one branch of the tree can produce distinct fruits. I would keep an eye on where the fruit are growing on the tree next season.
Time: 28th January 2015 8:09am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author jakfruit etiquette
vic
#UserID: 5133
Posts: 915
View All jakfruit etiquette's Edible Fruit Trees
Garden Man says...
The reason that the fruits are bearing similarities to their closly planted relatives is due to the root-system grafting underground with the other tree.
you will notice this won't happen if grown in pots or with correct spacing.
Time: 18th February 2015 3:19pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author Garden Man
Ararat 3377
#UserID: 11319
Posts: 2
View All Garden Man's Edible Fruit Trees
Garden Man says...
And if your fruit is sour it's probably due to low sulfur levels, which is why its usually ammended with either magnesium sulfate or sulfate of potash,
both contain enough sulfur to make tasty fruit.
Time: 18th February 2015 3:24pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author Garden Man
Ararat 3377
#UserID: 11319
Posts: 2
View All Garden Man's Edible Fruit Trees
MIke T1 says...
Root fusion can indeed help coordinate flowering but it is not necessary for coordination.Plants can communicate things like flower timing through aerosols.One can be chewed by caterpillars and trees all around respond by producing anti insect metabolites.S,MG and K can make fruit sweeter in a whole lot of species if added when they are lacking.It is illogical that pollen from any source influences the flavour of the mother tissue in the fruit.It can only influence whether fruit is held and if abscissic acid is unleashed.Or so you would think but some references seem to say it is possible.
Sorry for the ramble.
Time: 18th February 2015 11:09pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author MIke T1
cairns
#UserID: 10744
Posts: 250
View All MIke T1's Edible Fruit Trees
Curious newbe says...
I'm hoping someone can help me understand a mystery in my backyard. I have a small grapefruit tree ~6-8 feet to the left/front of my neighbor's two orange trees (picture 1). The last several years, some branches from one of the orange trees came into my garden area, so I quickly cut them off. This year I was busy and let them grow. I was amazed a few weeks ago when I saw HUGE fruits on the branch on the orange tree (picture 2). With some research, I determined they were pomelos (cut one open and verified extremely thick skin!). Based on the info in the forum above, I just went out and confirmed, that these fruits are all coming off of one main branch. But, in looking at the base of the trunk, it looks like part of the main trunk grew these new branches, and are growing more (pic 3 - pomelo branches are in the front of the picture, and I'm suspicious that next year my neighbor will see pomelos on the branch that has wrapped around to the back left). I'm very curious how this could have happened. Do you think this could be the root-system grafting as described above? Or, any other thoughts? Thanks in advance, it's made my family and me very curious!
Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1 
Picture: 2 
Picture: 3
Time: 19th January 2018 1:24pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
Original Post was last edited: 21st January 2018 3:00am
About the Author Curious newbe
Thousand Oaks CA
#UserID: 17744
Posts: 2
View All Curious newbe's Edible Fruit Trees
jakfruit etiquette says...
It looks like the odd branches in pic3 are coming from very low down, these are most likely rootstock suckers from below the graft. Have you tried eating these odd fruit, can you post a pic of the leaves of these low branches??
Time: 21st January 2018 6:02pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author jakfruit etiquette
vic
#UserID: 5133
Posts: 915
View All jakfruit etiquette's Edible Fruit Trees
Markmelb says...
I think cross pollination of citrus can truly create larger fruit - i have a Carters red holding its first ever fruit normal looking size but its masses of flowers have definitely i feel caused my Meyer Lemon to have extremely large fruit this year. Not ready to harvest just yet but will add to this later . wonder if i fruit this seed could i maybe create a pink lemon?
Time: 22nd January 2018 8:17am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
Original Post was last edited: 22nd January 2018 8:21am
About the Author Markmelb
MOUNT WAVERLEY,3149,VIC
#UserID: 7785
Posts: 1192
View All Markmelb's Edible Fruit Trees
Brain says...
I thought pomelo leaves has winged petiole.
Anyway, citrumelo is a proper rootstock, so the rootstock theory can stand.
I'm generalising here, most people wouldn't grow pomelos unless there is a real reason to, so adds weight that it's a rootstock sucker.
Just take some leaves from upper branches and compared them with the lower ones and see if you can see and smelt anything different.
Time: 22nd January 2018 5:53pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author Brain
brisbane
#UserID: 6289
Posts: 638
View All Brain's Edible Fruit Trees
Markmelb says...
Curious newbie - definitely a fruit born from below the graft which is rootstock fruit not the CV above the graft - hows it taste? pretty tart?
Time: 23rd January 2018 10:17am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author Markmelb
MOUNT WAVERLEY,3149,VIC
#UserID: 7785
Posts: 1192
View All Markmelb's Edible Fruit Trees
Manfred says...
The only factor in fruit size, colour, flavour etc is the breeding of the mother. Cross pollination only affects the embryo (or embryos in polymbryonics) in the seeds, which will determine the next generation. It can't alter the characteristics of the fruit.
In an animal analogy, the fruit is the womb, and the characteristics of the father affect the growing foeti, but it can't make the mother any different.
Time: 23rd January 2018 7:53pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author Manfred
Wamboin
#UserID: 9565
Posts: 243
View All Manfred's Edible Fruit Trees
Curious newbe says...
Here are some pictures of the leaves. They look very similar to me (I'm definitely no expert). Orange leaves on top, pomelo below. The only thing that stands out to me is that the pomelo leaves are much larger than the orange. No difference in smell of the leaves that I can discern. We did try eating one of the fruits - very thick skin, and have only had pomelo once before but seemed similar. When the current one ripens a bit, I will cut open and send a picture.
Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1
Time: 25th January 2018 6:05am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author Curious newbe
Thousand Oaks CA
#UserID: 17744
Posts: 2
View All Curious newbe's Edible Fruit Trees
jakfruit etiquette says...
I think the leaves in the new pic are different types, not just larger of the same.
These Vars are used as rootstocks in parts of USA. They are Pummelo hybrids
http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/cuban_shaddock.html
http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/obovoidea.html
Cuban Shaddock is a giant lemon
Kinkoji is a Pummelo X Mandarin
Also Sour Orange is also used, which is similar.
Other types are also possible.
Here are good pics of various Pummelos
http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/pummelo.html
Pummelos have very large seeds and large juice vesicles inside the fruit.
Time: 25th January 2018 9:38am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author jakfruit etiquette
vic
#UserID: 5133
Posts: 915
View All jakfruit etiquette's Edible Fruit Trees
coolbreeze says...
Hi all,
I have an Australian red centre lime tree which is developed by the csiro. It produces thumb sized fruits with a deep reddish, maroon skin and a tangy flesh. I think it is a cross between a kumquat and some sort of finger lime but am not certain. I also have a normal kumquat plant. Both species are grafted and of a dwarf variety. My question is this - sometimes I get shoots from both root stocks (beneath the graft point which is easily visible) which is thorny with a leaf that is three lobed. Does anyone know what plant this root stock is? They both seem to be of the same variety. And is it available to buy?
Also, does anyone know if kaffir limes are good to use as root stocks? Numerous seedlings have sprouted up around my old kaffir lime tree and I don't need any more. Will keep for grafting if they are good root stock though otherwise I will pull them. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
edited - have found out that root stock is the Flying Dragon poncirus trifoliate. thanks anyhow.
Time: 28th January 2018 6:27pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
Original Post was last edited: 29th January 2018 7:52pm
About the Author coolbreeze
Riverhills
#UserID: 17782
Posts: 25
View All coolbreeze's Edible Fruit Trees
jakfruit etiquette says...
Flying Dragon has curved thorns on zig zag stems. Normal Trifoliata has straight thorns and stems. Citrange also has 3 lobed leaves. You could grow rootstocks from cuttings of these shoots. Otherwise it is possible to find trees where the rootstock sucker has borne fruit.
Kaffir Lime is not suitable as a rootstock as it often does poorly when grown on its own roots. ie rootstocks are more disease resistant.
Time: 29th January 2018 8:47pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author jakfruit etiquette
vic
#UserID: 5133
Posts: 915
View All jakfruit etiquette's Edible Fruit Trees
coolbreeze says...
Hey all,
Thanks jackfruit for the info. After reading your reply I am no longer sure if my rootstocks are the Flying Dragon. The shoots are straight but are still very small so might have time to zigzag. And I didn't even know about the Citrange. Will try a cutting to see how it develops as i'm even more interested now. What is the minimum length that a shoot should be to make a successful cutting? And will normal premium potting mix do?
I guess it's bye bye for them kaffir lime seedlings.
Time: 30th January 2018 12:09pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author coolbreeze
Riverhills
#UserID: 17782
Posts: 25
View All coolbreeze's Edible Fruit Trees
RobCA says...
Hi Fred,
Did you ever find out what happened to get this fruit from your tree? We also have a lime tree that produce for about 5 years and now is producing fruit like your picture!! Green / yellow skin, orange flesh, and tastes like an orange. The fruit tastes great no complaints there but we wanted a lime not an orange. I just ran across the post hope this thread is still going. Thanks.
All the best,
Rob
Time: 26th March 2020 4:23am
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author RobCA
San Mateo, CA
#UserID: 21896
Posts: 1
View All RobCA's Edible Fruit Trees
Potty Bob 1 says...
As has been discussed , cross pollination will only alter the seed not the fruit .
Soil , nutrients and fertiliser ,PH and environment can alter the taste and appearance of fruit .
Test your Ph .
Why you could get an orange from a grapefruit tree or vice Vera etc , has 2.1 explanations that I am ware of .
1: a branch has grown from below the graft ;
.1;Further; I don't believe it but have heard rumours of the possibility of the host graft growing through the graft and sprouting a branch out of the new grafting growth , sounds possible ?
2: most citrus are a crossed from way back , what we are buying as our citrus are 90% grafted , or rather a cutting from a known productive cultivars . Because of the fruits dubious heratige before the cultivar ( Orange X Grapefruit = Manderine ) , plants can have a throwback fruit from time to time , such as a grapefruit tree producing an orange etc . Not sure why , maybe wrong message in the flower dna , people's dna can do similar .
Time: 1st April 2020 1:49pm
Reply |
LIKE this Answer(0) |
LIKE this Question (0) |
Report
About the Author Potty Bob 1
POTTSVILLE,2489,NSW
#UserID: 19705
Posts: 59
View All Potty Bob 1's Edible Fruit Trees
