Pakistan Mulberry producing seeds?

[shaneatwell]

We found a couple hundred seeds while making jam. There are no male mulberry trees in the neighborhood that I know of. Is this common? Are they viable? Parthenocarpic? We've only had big crops for two years. And I didn't pay attention last year when we made jam.

[sc4001992]

Shane,

Can you post a picture of the seeds, I have not really seen them. But my Pakistan mulberry (black) fruits that drop on the grounds seems to grow seedlings every once in a while.
I have maybe 5 seedlings which grew on their own. One large seedling is about 10 ft tall now, but no fruit. It seems to grow very fast, it might be only 2-3 yrs old.

[shaneatwell]

will grab a pic next time we harvest and process. they look like all the mulberry seeds i've purchased though. imagine strawberry seeds.

encouraging that you're getting seedlings under your tree. i grafted a male branch on mine to encourage that, but maybe i don't need it? i'd like to breed a male pakistan by repeated back crossing.

if your seedlings are nucellar, then they'll all be females.

[sc4001992]

How do you determine if the tree is a male or female ?

I have 4 adult trees so there may be one male and female.

[shaneatwell]

Flowers are fairly different and of course the females produce fruit. I think the male flowers kinda stink too don't they?

Before they flower, I don't think there's a way.

[sc4001992]

Ok, thanks for info.

I think there is a neighbor down the block with a big mulberry tree that never has fruit. Maybe that is the male which is pollenating my female trees.

[shaneatwell]

Well 3 of my seeds germinated already, so I guess they are viable. Still wondering if they're clonal.

I checked a bunch more fruit yesterday and I there appears to be just a few seeds in most fruits.

[sc4001992]

.