The Tropical Fruit Forum

Welcome to Volume 12.

Caveat: it’s not 2012 anymore and time to detail each and every mango just isn’t there like days gone by.  But, I will chime in on what’s hitting the mark in 2024, and what isn’t, plus end with a top 10 for the year. Let the games begin.

I’m back!

Lindsay has outdone herself with her last three (Jan - Mar 2022) blog posts.

https://www.yearofthedurian.com/blog

Super interesting Durian varieties plus a ton of other local delights.

My travel hiatus will end but...what’s typically around in October?

So I found a variegated Piña Colada seedling this year. In asking around, only one person said they’ve personally seen a variegated seedling come up and I see Adam/FF posted he had one as well.  Variegation seems a genetic weakness but I’m curious who else has seen one from their planting efforts.

Years ago I participated in what turned out to be an epic tomato breeding project.  It started with an enthusiast who found a dwarf tomato variety in a USDA collection (iirc).  He grew it out and sure enough, it was a stocky indeterminant plant that needed no staking and didn't take over the yard.

It was crossed with an heirloom varietty with superior flavor and the project was born.  It takes about 9 generations for tomatoes to stabalize after cross pollination.  So to speed up the process, seeds were shared in the northern and southern hemispheres, getting at least two growing seasons in per year.  Second generation seeds segregate for parental traits and the selection begins. 

During the selection process, we planted out received seeds, say 1-2 dozen and it quickly becamse apparent which picked up the dwarf trait.  They were half the size of the other seedlings.  These were kept and grown out searching for something worthy, the other's culled.   

Fast forward and there are about 100 dwarf varieties that were created - big, flavorful heirloom quality in a manageable grow-in-a-pot tomato plant.  These were shared with small scale seed companies and have become widely available now.

So the selection process left me wondering about mangoes.  I know the genes are different (heterozygous vs. homozygous) and but paradoxically, selection might be faster with grafting onto already mature trees.  I have an ultra low branching Julie seedling in my yard and I'm curious, what % of Julie seedlings carry the dwarf 9or slow growing) trait.

And what % of those would provide an interesting improvement on Julie?

Cuttings from the dwarf reverse grafted onto an already mature tree would tell within a few seasons...

https://www.dwarftomatoproject.net/about/

Footnote I contributed to Dwarf Kangaroo Paw

We in Bermuda are keeping an eye on this

http://weather.bm/maps/TropicalStormInfo.asp?WTNTnum=WTNT24&201991423448

There are a significant number if people here planting mango from seed.  Tear through enough seeds are you will confirm plants that are normally mono can throw poly seeds and vice versa.  I am curious if anyone is attempting / tracking / or close to fruiting one of these seeds: specifically what does a poly tree spitting a mono seed do and vice versa.  Of course, one result won't be definitive but for those seeking the 'off types' from elite mango varieties to begin the next elite generation, its another path...

Chris at Truly Tropical has become a tremendous friend and mentor to be this past 8 years.  It was mainly through her, plus Sheehan and Dr. Noris Ledesma’s efforts I was able to acquire the best of the best. Please share.

https://youtu.be/BDJOQc_2H3s

Question: Are you guys seriously ready for this?

Has anyone heard of a Zill mango fruit called Raw Honey?

I potted up mango seeds in scores late July.  >90% have skyrocketed. Went to reuse the few pots showing no activity and 6 of the 9 actually had viable seeds still there. All had roots, were green/white and one had roots all the way out the pot.  But no six weeks and no stem sited. 

Have you seen this before?