MadSci Network: Botany
Query:

Re: Can bananas have seeds? I just opened a Dole Banana with seeds.

Date: Mon Mar 27 19:46:19 2000
Posted By: David Hershey, Faculty, Botany, NA
Area of science: Botany
ID: 954039467.Bt
Message:

Most cultivated bananas are triploid (three sets of chromosomes) so cannot 
produce seeds because successful meiosis requires an even number of chromosome 
sets. There are diploid bananas that have seeds but there are so many hard seeds 
that they they need to be strained out resulting in "baby food." You might have 
gotten a diploid banana. 

Other possibilities are that there was an error in meiosis and some functional 
gametes were produced, allowing seeds to form or there was a spontaneous 
doubling of chromosome sets from triploid to hexaploid that restored fertility. 

You might want to contact Dole and ask if they are interested in the seeds. 




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