The Tropical Fruit Forum

Citrus => Cold Hardy Citrus => Topic started by: Citradia on January 15, 2023, 05:34:04 PM

Title: Viability of seeds from frozen fruit
Post by: Citradia on January 15, 2023, 05:34:04 PM

All the fruit on my Seville froze in December. Is it possible that the seeds inside the ruined fruit could be viable ?  The fruit was not fully ripe, still green when frozen to death.
(https://i.postimg.cc/WFx58yzc/96-E2536-E-B18-A-4605-B860-504-EADDBFBE8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WFx58yzc)

Title: Re: Viability of seeds from frozen fruit
Post by: Nick C on January 15, 2023, 07:51:45 PM

I would say its a very slim chance

Title: Re: Viability of seeds from frozen fruit
Post by: kumin on January 15, 2023, 08:30:21 PM

A 2-3week seed test at 86°F should provide some answers. If the seeds have a hard seedcoat chances should be better.

Title: Re: Viability of seeds from frozen fruit
Post by: Citradia on January 16, 2023, 01:26:11 PM

What do y’all think ? Worth cleaning these up and planting them?
(https://i.postimg.cc/Mf2qT4xc/52-C55-AD2-D517-4944-BFC6-62-D1-F7582495.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Mf2qT4xc)

(https://i.postimg.cc/f3Pw4yrf/EE2-A99-A8-4-E5-C-48-FC-904-B-C26-DF998-D29-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/f3Pw4yrf)

Title: Re: Viability of seeds from frozen fruit
Post by: kumin on January 16, 2023, 02:04:45 PM

There's not much to lose. I have planted immature Clementine seeds and got good germination. The biggest danger I foresee is susceptibility to decay, especially with the adhering flesh.

Title: Re: Viability of seeds from frozen fruit
Post by: poncirsguy on January 16, 2023, 04:49:01 PM

If seeds had to wait till the fruits to be ripe before the seeds them selves were ripe, those plants would be extinct.  Most fruits are eaten before they are ripe.

Title: Re: Viability of seeds from frozen fruit
Post by: Citradia on January 16, 2023, 09:15:25 PM

I washed and planted the seeds today. They actually look as good as any others I have planted in the past. Thanks, guys.

Title: Re: Viability of seeds from frozen fruit
Post by: hardyvermont on January 17, 2023, 01:48:14 AM

There is research on citrus seed viability after freezing.  Less viability with more cold.  I doubt that seed is viable from that depth of cold.  Nevertheless, I planted seed of a fruit that was missed before the cold.  Nothing to lose. 

Title: Re: Viability of seeds from frozen fruit
Post by: vnomonee on January 17, 2023, 01:38:18 PM

Last winter I threw a bunch of yuzu seeds onto the ground and lightly covered with soil, out of 40 or so seeds 3 sprouted in the spring. The coldest temp we had was 6f, the soil froze many times over, with some seeds popping out of the ground. In the end I think the wet spring rotted most of the surviving seed.