The Tropical Fruit Forum

Citrus => Cold Hardy Citrus => Topic started by: kumin on March 18, 2019, 05:25:30 PM

Title: Are leaf size and stem diameter in seedlings predictive of eventual fruit size?
Post by: kumin on March 18, 2019, 05:25:30 PM
I suspect there is some correlation between leaf size and stem thickness in seedlings to the fruit size they will produce when they attain maturity. Has anyone found such a link, and if so, how closely were these characteristics linked? Pummelo and citron as well as grapefruit appear to follow this trend.
Title: Re: Are leaf size and stem diameter in seedlings predictive of eventual fruit size?
Post by: lebmung on March 18, 2019, 05:31:08 PM
It's not about that, it's about age. There is a somehow internal mechanism change after the juvenile period that triggers blooming or maybe an external stress to fight for survival.
Title: Re: Are leaf size and stem diameter in seedlings predictive of eventual fruit size?
Post by: kumin on March 18, 2019, 05:53:17 PM
Let me further clarify my question: Do cultivars with large leaves and thicker stems have a tendency to bear larger fruit? Pummelos and grapefruits yield very large fruits and also have coarse foliage, kumquats have the opposite. Can this be used to predict fruit size potential on new hybrid specimens?
Title: Re: Are leaf size and stem diameter in seedlings predictive of eventual fruit size?
Post by: Ilya11 on March 18, 2019, 07:02:57 PM
It is certainly depends on the species origin , but in some cases (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11295-015-0949-8) (also (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11295-017-1162-8)) there is a distinct correlation between apparently non related features.

Title: Re: Are leaf size and stem diameter in seedlings predictive of eventual fruit size?
Post by: Millet on March 18, 2019, 10:02:41 PM
Look at Page - large leaves small fruit.
Title: Re: Are leaf size and stem diameter in seedlings predictive of eventual fruit size?
Post by: sc4001992 on October 13, 2020, 04:41:24 PM
Kumin,

I'm not sure about any relation with stem thickness, but I agree that there seems to be some correlation with large leaf size and large fruit size.
Look at these citrus and loquats plants from my garden.

1.)  Peluche is the largest know loquat fruit (according to members)
2.)  9 pounder lemon, one of the largest lemon (my grafted branch is only 2yrs old so had three fruit =2 lbs ea, but large leaf).
3.)  Roy's seedling pomelo- it has the largest leaf (6" x 13-1/2" see photo), and fruit is pretty decent size (2.8 lbs).
4.)  Seedling loquat, unknown variety but seems to have the largest leaf so far in my 30+ varieties. Hope the fruit gets large.


(https://i.postimg.cc/hfbF1hsT/9lbr-Lemon-leaf.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hfbF1hsT)

(https://i.postimg.cc/SXRw4dhf/9lbs-lemon-Disney-World.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/SXRw4dhf)

(https://i.postimg.cc/2bBMb53q/Peluche-fruit-adam.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/2bBMb53q)

(https://i.postimg.cc/WdXQxKQ4/Peluche5-Leaf.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WdXQxKQ4)

(https://i.postimg.cc/v1KCZn8F/Peluche6-Leaf.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/v1KCZn8F)

(https://i.postimg.cc/xNvZ5Fvn/Roy-Leaf1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xNvZ5Fvn)

Roy Pomelo leave size = 6" x 13-1/2"

(https://i.postimg.cc/7b0jqbpd/Roy-Leaf2-6x13.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7b0jqbpd)

(https://i.postimg.cc/9w5SGjqL/Roy-Seedling1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9w5SGjqL)

(https://i.postimg.cc/BX3kb436/Seedling-Large-Leaf2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BX3kb436)
Title: Re: Are leaf size and stem diameter in seedlings predictive of eventual fruit size?
Post by: Millet on October 13, 2020, 08:53:51 PM
Saint Teresa Lemon, has the largest size leaves in citrus, and yet produces a regular size fruit.