Are these vestigial seeds in a "seedless" orange?
Two recent organic navel oranges had a lot of these 2-x-head-of-a-pin-sized seed-like things. Each orange had maybe 25 of them clinging to the very center membrane in the orange. I allowed them to dry overnight and they do seem to feel like seeds, but obviously very small for orange seeds. They were also at the very center of the orange, not just off-center where orange seeds would be expected to be. What are they?
It seems pretty obvious that they are seedy things. But are they typical? Why have I never seen them before? Is it some kind of mutation trying to make our seedless oranges seeded again? What?
Strangely, these were the most flavorless oranges that I have ever encountered. Even the zest lacked any kind of orange flavor.
A US dime is 17.91 mm in diameter.
Best Answer
I'm from the garden/landscape section of the site, but post your question there anyway, regardless of my answer - you may get a better/different one! Navel oranges, technically, are parthenocopic, which means they produce fruit without fertilisation, and that's why they are seedless. However, if the blossom is pollinated by a suitable donor, then seeds may form. These are usually, as you've discovered, vestigial seeds and may not even be fertile. The cause of the pollination (if the fruit is grown in the States, usually) is beekeepers bringing bees to orchards where other varieties of orange may be growing, or other varieties growing too close to parthenocopic varieties, usually out of ignorance by the grower when planting. Quite often, the navel fruits with seeds are of a smaller size, though not always.
Pictures about "Are these vestigial seeds in a "seedless" orange?"
Why are there seeds in my orange?
Although some oranges are seedless, this does not mean they are genetically modified. Instead, this is a result of a natural mutation in the tree, and these mutations happen to many plants all the time.Why do navel oranges not have seeds?
navel orange variety are seedless. The reason for this condition is that the flowers from which the fruits develop are not pollinated.Are seeds in oranges?
Growing Seeds from Oranges Anyone who has ever peeled and eaten an orange knows that the fruit can have a dozen seeds in it, or even more. The bigger news is that most seeds from oranges can grow into plants, you can even grow store bought orange seeds.What orange fruit has seeds?
There are two popular types of oranges, the seedless ones and those with seeds. Navel oranges are seedless, while Valencias have seeds. Some other oranges with seeds include the Hamlins, blood oranges, and tangerines.How Do Farmers Make Seedless Fruit?
More answers regarding are these vestigial seeds in a "seedless" orange?
Answer 2
Yes, those are vestigial seeds.
Breeding a fruit with absolutely no seeds is quite difficult if not impossible, as the whole point of fruits is to have seeds, and get those seeds distributed by animals or insects. There is almost always some remnant or reduced version of the seed.
Just as a point of interest, so-called seedless fruits usually are sterile, and so the plants must be propagated by another method. All the members of the cultivar are therefore genetic clones.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Anthony, Pixabay, Digital Buggu, Mike