Lemon embryology

[helene_t]

In lemons, there are a lot of tiny seed close to the center of the slides (the axis of rotational symmetry of the fruit) and a few large seeds randomly dispersed in the fruit.

 

I have a theory that this is because seeds are formed in the center (the early stage of development requires "something" that has to be delivered via the axis), while after detatching from the center, they grow larger, feeding on lemon juice.

 

It seems like a vaste that the ripe lemon contains tiny (presumably not ripe) seeds, but maybe this is not the case. The lemons we northerners get in the supermarkets were picked unripe and artificially "riped" which may only change the color, not advance the seed detachment from the center.

 

Is that theory correct?

[pigpenz]

if its that way in lemons would not it be the same way in other citrus fruits

[barmar]

I suspect you can't judge the natural development of most fruits and vegetables from the varieties you buy in modern supermarkets. These are the results of centuries of domestication and artificial selection for attributes that consumers like. Most domesticated plants no longer depend on their fruit for procreation -- that's why we now have seedless grapes and watermelon, and the seeds in many other fruits are immature.

 

It would be interesting to compare wild lemons with store-bought ones, to see how the seed distribution compares.

[helene_t]

Oh that's an alternative explanation: the tiny seeds are degenerated seeds that used to grow ripe before domestication.

[Winstonm]

Perhaps you are observing a natural mutation, Helene. To my simple mind, it would seem the "store bought" varieities would be less prone to express a new trait, while "wild" lemons would be subject to more natural selection. Perhaps the duality of seeds has to do with a better chance for reproduction and this type of mutation survived the last lemon blight.

[mike777]

Mutant Lemons in Europe....ugggggg B)

 

Better we bomb now just to be on the safe side and ask questions later.... :)

[Winstonm]

Mutant Lemons in Europe....ugggggg :o

 

Better we bomb now just to be on the safe side and ask questions later.... ;)

You may be right....mutated lemons eaten by non-naturalized European children that turns them into terroist zombies - I think this was a movie, too. :P

[hrothgar]

Mutant Lemons in Europe....ugggggg :o

 

Better we bomb now just to be on the safe side and ask questions later.... ;)

Don't laugh... It looks like the lemon's might be cultivating us.

 

There was a VERY amusing science fiction story several decades back. Aliens arrived on earth and concluding that lawn grass was the dominant species on earth, having successfully enslaved homo sapiens

[Al_U_Card]

They were going to make the movie "Attack of the killer Lemons" but they soured on the idea...... ;)

[sceptic]

they renamed that movie

 

The creature from the S lime

[pigpenz]

there was a recent article how a bee keeper in California was being sued to keep his bees out of an orchard that was growing seedless oranges because the pollination had an effect on the oranges now becoming nonseedless.

 

Today in the Sacramento Bee there was an atricle on how weird dog breeds from Japan were having an effect on the liters due to such a vast amount of inbreeding. To ge a blue hued chiuaha (however you spell it) other pups in the liter were being born with out faces, noses, eyes, or paws.

 

So now that we are going to the road where there is no more natural selection or survival of the fittest, who knows what the future will bring :)

[barmar]

Mutant Lemons in Europe....ugggggg :o

 

Better we bomb now just to be on the safe side and ask questions later.... :)

Don't laugh... It looks like the lemon's might be cultivating us.

 

There was a VERY amusing science fiction story several decades back. Aliens arrived on earth and concluding that lawn grass was the dominant species on earth, having successfully enslaved homo sapiens

We seem to be prone to enslavement. Dogs and cats live a life of luxury compared to their wild ancestors, having trained us to be their chefs and build shelters for them. We even pick up their poop for them, how much more subserviant can we be?