Seedless watermelons don't grow from seeds that they produce, instead they require a complex process for their growth.
The Process of Growing Seedless Watermelons
Growing seedless watermelons involves a specific process that differs from growing seeded varieties. According to the reference, the inability of seedless watermelons to reproduce makes the growing process both complex and expensive. Here's how it works:
Understanding Triploid Watermelons
- Triploid Nature: Seedless watermelons are triploid, meaning they have three sets of chromosomes instead of the usual two (diploid). This is the key to their seedlessness, as these plants can't reproduce normally. This is why, as the reference states, "These plants can't reproduce. Making them seedless.".
- Hybridization: Triploid seeds are produced through a process that involves crossing a standard diploid watermelon with a tetraploid watermelon (four sets of chromosomes).
Step-by-Step Guide
- Creating Tetraploid Plants:
- The process begins with creating tetraploid watermelon plants. These are produced by treating diploid watermelon plants with a chemical called colchicine.
- Cross-Pollination:
- The tetraploid plants are then crossed with normal diploid plants.
- Triploid Seed Development:
- The result of this cross is triploid seeds which are the seeds for seedless watermelons.
- Planting the Seedless Seeds:
- The triploid seeds are planted to grow the seedless watermelon plants.
- Pollination Requirement:
- Triploid plants are sterile and unable to produce pollen on their own. They need pollen from a regular diploid watermelon plant to produce fruit.
- Therefore, both seedless (triploid) and seeded (diploid) plants must be planted together in the field.
- Fruit Development:
- While the triploid plant will not produce seeds, it will grow a fruit when pollinated by the diploid watermelon plants.
Why It's Complex and Expensive
- Hybrid Seed Production: The process of creating triploid seeds is not straightforward and requires specialized knowledge and techniques.
- Higher Seed Cost: Because of the additional steps, triploid seeds are more expensive than regular diploid seeds. This is why the reference mentions it is "an expensive and complex process".
Key Takeaways
- Seedless watermelons are triploid, meaning they have three sets of chromosomes which make them unable to reproduce.
- Their seeds are created by crossing diploid and tetraploid watermelon plants.
- Seedless plants still require pollination from seeded plants to produce fruit.
