MadSci Network: Agricultural Sciences
Query:

Re: Do oranges with seeds also have the little baby oranges inside?

Date: Sat Jan 29 21:40:18 2005
Posted By: David Hershey, Faculty, Botany, NA
Area of science: Agricultural Sciences
ID: 1106849152.Ag
Message:

No, seeded oranges do not have the little baby oranges.

The orange fruit is termed a hesperidium, a type of berry. Navel oranges are named because of the small second orange formed inside the rind, which produces a belly-button-like structure on the rind surface. Navel oranges are almost always seedless. The first navel orange, 'Washington' navel orange, originated in about 1820 in Brazil as a mutation so the unusual fruit structure is genetic, not because of how the oranges are grown.

There are many types of navel oranges. Many have originated as mutations of the original. Some navel orange varieties are 'Becks', 'Tule Gold', 'Atwood', 'Fukumoto', 'Lane Late' and 'Skaggs Bonanza'. Apples are sold under variety names, navel oranges usually are not.

Seedless grapefruit are genetically seedless but do not produce a small second fruit as in navel oranges. Seedless fruit are usually the result of parthenocarpy, which is fruit development without fertilization.

References


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