Planting seeds of Citrus Bergamia

[alexmed95]

Hi all,

I am curious: a couple of months ago, I planted two seeds of Bergamot Orange (citrus bergamia) that are now seedlings. That said, it was before
I was made aware that this citrus doesn't grow true to type... So my question is -if they were to survive and thrive till maturity- what would be the type of citrus that they would have? What type of fruit would it produce if it flowers and bears fruit?

The smell from these seedling leaves is quite different from those of lemon trees. Also, both seedlings don't have thorns.

Many thanks,

[pagnr]

The scent of Bergamia is pretty distinct. If yours match that scent, it is going to be very similar. If the scent is only somewhat the same ( weaker ), that is another clue.
If your seedlings are either  identical, or quite different that will tell your more.
You could have variable seedlings from self pollination, or from crossing to another Citrus.
Since Bergamia are mainly grown as ornamentals or for perfumery, not edible fruit, you could get something interesting.

[alexmed95]

I can tell the leaves smell distinct from what I've encountered with Lemon and orange trees. That said, I don't have a Bergamot tree yet (will receive it mid-October after a long time searching for one). I'll do the smell comparison between the seedlings and this tree. Will do an update here once I have an idea.

I think it's worth it to grow both of them to see how they will come up in a few years. The mystery is kind of appealing, and I have yet to find people who have grown them from seeds on the internet (at least no update after a couple of years).

I've attached some pictures of both seedlings.

Best

[caladri]

Conventional wisdom is that bergamot is largely monoembryonic, i.e. that offspring should be zygotic/sexual. I'm growing some from seed, but mine are about as far along as yours

[alexmed95]

If we end up with a cross between Bergamot and another citrus, it might also be an exciting plant! I also saw that Bergamot is self-pollinating so that could mean that seeds have the full genetic of the mother tree.

Nice, are you able to share some closeup of your seedlings?

Best

[pagnr]

The Bergamias I have seen are pretty close to an Earl Grey Tea Bag in scent.

[JSea]

What's interesting is that apparently one of the parents of bergamot is a limetta.

What I don't know, is whether it was an acidless limetta or not - maybe someone knows that.

If it was an acidless limetta, and your bergamot seeds were self-pollinated, I think that means there's a 1/4 chance that the seedling will be acidless as well. It would've been possible to tell this before you germinated the seed - just look for the chalazal spot being tan (no clue how to do that though haha, good luck actually doing it).
The other clues are whether it can make any red pigment (new growth reddish, as some lemons/citrons have) - if it can, it's more likely an acid Citrus.

[alexmed95]

Small update:


I've searched the web for an answer (in many languages). It Turns out that some sources in Italian and French suggest that if you plant a Bergamot seed, a Sour/Bitter Orange tree will grow. One website also added that while the fruits would be Sour Orange, the leaves would have the scent of Bergamot's.

I don't know how true it is, but I do feel like Italians might have an extensive history of growing Bergamot (seeds).


TBF!

[alexmed95]

Another update:


I received a small bergamot tree from a nursery about a month ago. Crushed some of its leaves, and the smell is not the same as
my seedlings. Bergamot is very peppery, while the seedling gives somewhat of a "fruit loop" or kids' grapes-flavoured vitamin scent. Maybe it's
the smell of common Sour Orange leaves?

Probably only time will tell.


Best,
Alex

[bussone]

Another update:


I received a small bergamot tree from a nursery about a month ago. Crushed some of its leaves, and the smell is not the same as
my seedlings. Bergamot is very peppery, while the seedling gives somewhat of a "fruit loop" or kids' grapes-flavoured vitamin scent. Maybe it's
the smell of common Sour Orange leaves?

Probably only time will tell.

Artificial grape smell is Methyl anthranilate. Annoyingly, that is a chemical expressed by bergamot, but also by mandarins (reticulata) and sour oranges (aurantium). So it's not specific evidence either way.

[alexmed95]

Another update:


I received a small bergamot tree from a nursery about a month ago. Crushed some of its leaves, and the smell is not the same as
my seedlings. Bergamot is very peppery, while the seedling gives somewhat of a "fruit loop" or kids' grapes-flavoured vitamin scent. Maybe it's
the smell of common Sour Orange leaves?

Probably only time will tell.

Artificial grape smell is Methyl anthranilate. Annoyingly, that is a chemical expressed by bergamot and mandarins (reticulata) and sour oranges (aurantium). So it's not specific evidence either way.

Well... First, thanks for this information. I didn't know that! Second, except for being the most noticeable scent of the seedlings' leaves, I'm still at the starting point, haha! I can also see that the leaves are not the same shape as my Bergamot's, but rather closer to the ones of a Sour Orange.

[alexmed95]

Just an update on these seedlings: one of the two died (mine) of root rot I suspect. The other one (my mother's) is doing relatively well, and we can now see the shape of the mature leaves. In this case, it seems like planting a seed of Bergamot results in something closer to a normal Sour Orange. The leaves' aroma, although very nice and grape-like, isn't the same as my reel Bergamot leaves. 

Here are some pictures: