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Topics - starch

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Mango Mono vs. Poly seed question
« on: July 14, 2019, 09:52:22 PM »
Yesterday I ate my first E-4/Sugarloaf (which was absolutely amazing, one of the 3 best mangos I have eaten this season). I have read that Sugarloaf is polyembryonic so I wanted to plant the seed. I let the seed husk dry out and opened it today.

First thing to note is that seed was extremely small. About the size of a quarter and very thin. It reminded me of a 'chicken tongue' mango seed (i.e. how a Sweetheart lychee makes aborted small shriveled seeds). This is similar to the experience that Simon has had with E-4 on the mono vs. ploy thread (see here: http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=12030.msg327034#msg327034 ). And so I would have thought that this was an aborted / non-viable mango seed based on the size .... except .... it already had a taproot with side roots forming and the main stem was already forming out of the seed. So this seed looks viable.

But here is the deal: there is only one embryo. It is clear as day that there are not multiple embryos that you see in a typical polyembryonic seed, which have very obvious divisions in the seed for the different embryos. Nor does there seem to be an amorphous mass of embryos without division. This is just a single (viable) tiny seed with a single tiny embryo.

So here is my question:

Assuming the E-4 is in fact a polyembryonic mango (which seems the case based on a few peoples observations) what are the chances that this small atrophied but viable seed (which clearly has only one embryo) is a clone? Do you think it is likely that this is a sexually produced embryo or is it more likely to be a cloned embryo?

I have already planted it so I am going to grow it out either way. But wanted to see what the consensus might be on this subject.

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I have been growing Pitangatuba (Eugenia neonitida) for several years and have 4 fruit producing plants. All are between 2-4 ft tall (Pitangatuba is notoriously slow growing) and my oldest shrub has been producing fruit for 3 years. I absolutely *love* the flavor. My best attempt to describe the flavor is mango-grapefruit-pineapple-peach-cherry. However the sweet / acid balance is something like 50/50. It has enough sweet to balance the flavor when you eat 1-2 of them, but not enough that you could eat a bunch of them at one time. The other drawback is that they are *very* latex-y. I often them them sit on the counter to turn from yellow to orange and it definitely helps. But once you eat a half dozen of them your lips start getting welded together. So for me for fresh eating it is more of a novelty.

All my plants (all seedlings) display the same flavor and latex characteristics. So I am wondering: has anyone done some selection on Pitangatuba to find/breed some superior cultivars?

In my mind a superior cultivar would:

1. Have the same intense tropical flavor that a normal seedling Pitangatuba would.
2. Have a more palatable sweet/acid balance (something like 67/33 would be pretty perfect)
3. Have a significantly reduced / non-perceptible latex presence

Does anybody have a plant that meets this criteria?
 

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Temperate Fruit Discussion / Dwarf pomegranate that doesn't suck?
« on: April 07, 2019, 08:38:20 PM »
Does anybody know of a dwarf pomegranate whose fruit doesn't suck?

I have 3 dwarfs that I uses a very narrow hedge. They are the 'Red Lady' dwarfs from Florida Hill Nursery that I bought years ago. The plants are *beautiful*. Very short internode spacing and slow grow. They look full and lush and 'feathery' even in full AZ sun. And they are usually full of miniature pomegranates that hang like ornaments. I am incredibly happy with these plants....

... except for the flavor. The pomegranates are exceptionally hard seeded, arils are bitter with no balancing sweetness. In a word, they suck.

They are essentially inedible. So these plants are basically ornamental plants now. Not the worst thing in the world... but I think I can do better than that.

I would love to graft on a variety that has the same dwarf habit, but that has better fruit.

So: who knows of a dwarf variety with (verifiably) good fruit?

4
Citrus General Discussion / Clean Shinanui Mandarin Budwood sources
« on: April 03, 2019, 02:29:10 PM »
Has anyone found a source for clean / certified disease free Shiranui (Dekopon, Sumo) Mandarin budwood?

I have checked CCPP off and on and they keep saying Temporarily Unavailable. And from what I gather, many people are interested in the CCPP budwood for Shiranui and can't get it.

Are there any other sources? What about the USDA, does their citrus repository have Shiranui?

5
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Parentage of Kathy (K-3)
« on: March 08, 2019, 11:09:02 AM »
What is the parentage of Kathy (K-3)?

6
I have two Spondias purpurea. I really love the trees. They grow fast, take the heat, have beautiful foliage and I like the fruit! I have one in the ground and one in 5 gallon bucket. Both trees are ~6 ft tall.

So I have a question for those that have been growing them for awhile:

The one in the pot will eventually go in the ground. I have a potential spot for it that is next to a block wall and some pool equipment (there used to be a large queen palm there).

I know the Spondias purpurea will grow great there (will take the heat and sun just fine). But what about the roots? Will the root system eventually cause a problem with these nearby structures and equipment? The tree is from a rooted cutting (not a seedling tree). I would think that would tend to make the root system less invasive, but I am not basing that off anything except a gut feel.

7
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Ensete superbum / Cliff Banana
« on: August 21, 2018, 12:31:15 PM »
I have been looking for info on this species, particularly if the fruit is edible. I did some google searches for both 'cliff banana' and 'ensete superbum' and did not find much info regarding edibility. Once site did note that some cultures did grow it for its roots (which are edible) and the fruit is not. But I would like some confirmation of this.

Is anybody growing Ensete superbum and have got it to fruit? Is the fruit edible?

8
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Indian Spice Mangos
« on: August 21, 2018, 11:43:19 AM »
I have been eating a bunch of Sunrise mangos off my tree this summer. The flavor is really incredible: rich, citrusy, spicy, some turpenes (but not knock you over the head). Very aromatic. The only down sides to these mangos (neither of which I mind) is they are small-ish and they have a fair amount of fiber. Not turpentine level fiber, but you certainly couldn't call it fiberless or near-fiberless.

But the flavor is making me very happy.

I have had other mangos in the past that have some of these flavor characteristics, particularly the spicy flavors:
- Kesar
- Bombay
- Jakarta

What are some of your favorite mangos that also fit this bill?

9
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / WTB: Florida Avocado Seeds
« on: August 05, 2018, 01:39:04 PM »
I am looking for large seeds from large vigorous Florida avocado cultivars (Lula, Waldin, Simmonds, Monroe, Choquette, etc., basically anything vigorous in FL that make vigorous seedlings). I find them to be vigorous rootstocks that handle the AZ heat.

If you have any you could sell me I would appreciate it!

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Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / WTB: Pierce Cherimoya scions
« on: July 29, 2018, 02:14:15 PM »
I ordered some Pierce cherimoya scions this spring but did not get any takes with them.

We have a some nice monsoon humidity right now and all my Annonas are growing vigorously so I would like to try some summer grafting.

If anybody has some Pierce cherimoya scions they can sell me I would really appreciate it!

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Test to see if this works




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Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / WANT: Avri Loquat scions
« on: May 01, 2018, 08:09:02 PM »
Does anybody have Avri loquat scions that they would be willing to sell me?
Or if you are interested in a trade, I have McBeth.


13
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Least Colorful Mangos
« on: February 16, 2018, 10:36:38 AM »
I did a quick search and didn't find quite what I was looking for. Is there a list of mangos with the least color (ones that are still green skinned when mature).

In lieu of a list already existing, maybe users can rattle off which ones fit this criteria.

14
Tropical Fruit Discussion / starch mango
« on: January 09, 2018, 04:52:09 PM »
I have just learned that there is a mango variety called starch. A quick google search tells me it is a favored mango from Trinidad.

Based on the name, I am very intrigued :)

Can anybody describe the flavor and characteristics of the fruit?

15
I would like to buy some Jackfruit seeds from red fleshed cultivars, seeds from Red Morning are ones that I would strongly be interested in.


16
I have a lot of family that lives in Middle Tennessee (Columbia, Spring Hill and Murfreesboro) and I got them hooked onto growing figs. Now I want to get them hooked onto growing pawpaws :)

Which cultivars grow best in middle TN?

Ideally these cultivars won't need any additional irrigation once established, and will rely solely on the plentiful TN rains (need to get them hooked on minimum effort cultivars first). But needs to withstand the muggy summers. Also, ideally, they would be full sun tolerant (planted out by itself with no other trees around it). Is that even possible with pawpaws? Or will they need a nurse tree in middle TN before they get established.

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Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / WTB: Pierce Cherimoya Fruit
« on: November 09, 2017, 06:16:40 PM »
I am looking to buy some Pierce cherimoya fruit (large flat rate box size, or however you prefer to ship), and I would be willing to pre-order.

Thanks!
Mark

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Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / WTB: Mamey Sapote Scions
« on: October 16, 2017, 10:23:34 AM »
I would like to buy mamey sapote scions from the following cultivars:

- Akil Especial
- Papa
- Lorito

I already have Pace and Cepeda Especial (not enough to harvest yet, so I can't offer a trade).

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Dwarf Namwah ... uhhhhh.....
« on: March 24, 2017, 01:18:24 PM »
So I used to have a Dwarf Namwah that I got from Going Bananas. Everyone says it is a great banana plant. It grew great from me all last summer, took the heat just fine. I moved it to a different spot in my yard because I had it potted and I wanted it in the ground. Long story short ... I killed it by underwatering.

Not the plants fault, totally my fault. And as it grew all last summer it had gorgeous green typical banana leaves.

So I decide to get another one this spring. Not from Going Bananas but another place.

I get the tree in and this is what I get:



.... uhhhh ... this does not look a Dwarf Namwah to me.

So this is what I wrote to them:

"I just received an order in which I ordered a Dwarf Namwah banana. However the banana that I received is not a Dwarf Namah. The leaves have red splotches on them. See attached picture. Based on the spotches, I think it is either Siam Ruby or Sumatran X or something similar. It is definitely not Dwarf Namwah which have solid green leaves (I used to have one, so I know what it should look like)."

This is what they responded with:

"We have spoken to our horticulturist and he said that since these are made by tissue culture it is possible for the Nam Wah to have red color variations. This is the correct banana even though your last one had only green leaves."

Does this pass muster?

I did a quick Google search to see if Namwah ever has red splotches and could not find anything.

So the question to the banana experts here is: Can Dwarf Namwah have red splotches?

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Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / WANT: Purple Mombin cuttings
« on: March 04, 2017, 07:02:32 PM »
I would like some Purple Mombin cuttings to try and root them. Does anyone have some for sale / trade?

21
I have had mamey sapotes on several occasions and I love them. They are one of my favorite fruits. Usually the cultivar name is not known, but based on descriptions I think I have eaten Pantin and Magana.

Here is how I would describe them:

Magana:
Larger (size of a nerf football)
Generally 2-3 seeds
Inside is brown with grey streaks / fibers
Texture is good
Flavor is the classic mamey sapote flavor

Pantin:
Smaller (size of softball, but still pointed like the mamey should be)
Generally 1-2 seeds
Inside is orange-brown with no streaks
Texture is superb, no graininess and is like a firm custard
Flavor is the classic mamey sapote flavor but with something a bit more indescribably 'tropical' in the flavor profile.

I picked up a Pace mamey sapote last year (not fruited yet), but I am wondering which varieties are considered must-haves.

So my question to the group is, how would you rate these cultivars?

Akil
Cepeda Especial
Excalibur
Florida
Magana
Pace
Pantin
Papa
Viejo

22
Here is what I have noticed from my trees:

Molix - I have had it for 1.5 years and it is still only 3 ft tall. Has relatively short leaf internodes, seems like a dwarf / compact grower. But it has already flowered multiple times.

Makok - I grafted it onto one of the rootstock suckers on my Molix. I have not observed tree behavior directly. But based on other observations and comments it looks like it is another compact grower

Alano - Large internode spacing, seems like it will be an upright grower. Has not flowered yet

Silas Wood - My tree is still small (2 ft) but it seems very Alano-like in terms of internode spacing. Has already flowered at 2 ft tall (seems very precocious).

Tikal - Upright with large internode spacing. Have not seen flowers yet.

What about Hasya, Moreno and Ox? How would you rate their growth habits and precociousness ?

Also,

I have never met a Sapodilla I didn't like. They are one of my favorite fruits (close behind mamey sapote). But I don't know any of the cultivars I have tasted, they were just sold as Sapodillas.

So which one is your favorite?

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Canistel vs. Lucuma
« on: December 02, 2016, 10:38:07 AM »
How similar in flavor and consistency is Eggfruit / Canistel (Pouteria campechiana) compared to Lucuma (Pouteria lucuma/Pouteria obovata)?

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Barbie Pink vs. Ruby Supreme Guava
« on: November 18, 2016, 11:48:25 AM »
For those of you who have tasted both of these guavas, how do they compare?
Based on nursery descriptions (which can be suspect) they sound very similar.

I have a small Barbie Pink (and a bunch of others too) and I wanted to see if it was close enough to Ruby Supreme, so that I don't have to hunt down another guava :)

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Fruit Trees as Houseplants?
« on: July 25, 2016, 01:46:51 AM »
I obviously have a bunch of fruit trees in my yard, but I had the thought today (I have no idea why it took me so long to come up with this thought) as I was looking at some of my houseplants: could some of these be fruit trees instead?

What fruit trees do well as houseplants and also fruit? And I don't mean a random tasteless fruit as a novelty, but would produce good fruit in this setting (otherwise, I will just stick with my beautiful, but non-fruiting houseplants).

Requirements:
- Beautiful tree (most fruit trees are), but it also has to be beautiful in a houseplant environment. If it looks scraggly/leggy when grown indoors the wife will nix it.
- Most of the windows I can put this in get bright but indirect light (mostly north facing windows). I do have one west facing window (that is currently occupied) that I might be able to persuade a swap for
- Has to produce quality fruit in this setting

Will a Jaboticaba work in this setting, or any other Myrciarias? How about any Eugenias? Maybe a Carambola?
I really have no idea, I am hoping people with a lot of direct experience will chime in.

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