Jumping on the hybrid bandwagon here, I've been following most such threads for a long time now; it's a particular interest of mine. But here, I come with a concern instead of a proposed experiment: Just how easily do related trees hybridize on their own account?
When propagating rare species to "spread the goodwill" and reduce their rarity - or maybe as a business -, it is of tantamount importance to have the other person receive pure seeds. They're going to want exactly what was advertised, and hybrids may not have the culinary qualities they were looking for in the original fruit. What's more, it stymies an attempt to reduce the rarity of an exotic when you intend to plant a pure seed and end up planting a hybrid by mistake. Worst case scenario in the case of species that are hard to tell apart, you end up with genetic pollution, which can end up with wide-ranging consequences when there are individuals receiving seeds, that are less concerned with pedantic species details, and breed them forward to other people under a false identity (either to make a quick buck, or because they don't think it's a big deal).
I may eventually - or not - end up in the propagating business to some degree (I'm mostly aiming for the produce business), but that's beside the point. At the moment, my plot of land is very small, and I'll be planting it densely with many fruit trees, several of which are related to one-another. I was hoping to propagate them to give them to friends and family, and maybe plant an odd tree or two around town, if it's allowed. Reducing the rarity and all that (which would particularly come in handy if something happens to my trees; I'd have a local source for more). So... Should I be worried about species purity when propagating them? Is it unlikely for them to hybridize? Or are these best answered on a case-by-case basis?
At the moment, I'm growing the following species clusters:
- Six Jabos (Red, Crowned, White, Grimal; Blue; Yellow).
- Seven Eugenias (uniflora, involucrata, brasiliensis, calycina, candolleana, luthschnathiana, selloi).
- Two Guavas (Common, Cattley).
- Five Artocarpus (altilis, camansi, odoratissimus, sericicarpus, hypargyreus).
- Four Garcinias (Achachairu, Sweet Madroño, Luc's, Intermedia).
- Two Theobromas (Pataxte / Mocambo, Cupuaçú).
My biggest concern is with the rarest species that I'd like to spread around; namely, Grimal Jabo, E. calycina, Pedalai, Madroño, and Luc's Garcinia. Not necessarily with each other (obviously), just that I'd like to propagate each of these pure. Am I likely to have an issue with them?
Hybridizing can be great fun, and is an excellent way to develop new crops, but only under the guiding hand of a willing breeder. Unauthorized hybridizing seems like it might be a nuisance if your biggest priority is propagation. And though I have several of my own experiments in mind, I also want to be able to propagate the pure species when the occasion requires it.