Genetically Modified Seedless Fruits

From seedless watermelons, bananas, pineapples, oranges to grapes, today, a pomologist or horticulturist can produce fruits without a trace of seeds, by using a number of ways ranging from tissue culture, parthenocarpy, stenospermocarpy, grafting, to budding methods. Seedless fruits are mainly produced by using grafting or cutting methods. In the grafting technique, a shoot or bud is joined to a growing plant by insertion or attachment, and once the flowers bloom, they are sprayed with plant hormones, such as gibberellic acid (GA3), cytokinin or auxin, to ensure that no seeds are formed. On the other hand, parthenocarpy is when a fruit is developed without the fertilization of ovules, and stenospermocarpy is when pollination and fertilization take place but does not produce any mature seeds, as the seeds get aborted at an early stage. Tissue culture is another process of propagating tissues of either cells or plants in an artificial environment, where it continues to survive and function. This method is mainly used to duplicate seedless oranges, cucumbers and bananas.

Seedless watermelons and cantaloupe have a complicated propagation method. They are grown from crossbreeding a normal watermelon or cantaloupe seedling, which consists of two sets of chromosomes with a tetraploid that consists of four sets of chromosomes to produce a triploid plant, that has three sets of chromosomes. Meiosis does not take place as it has only three sets of chromosomes, where one set does not have a matching set to pair with, and so does not produce fertile gametes. A diploid plant is still needed in the vicinity to pollinate the triploid plant and stimulate fruit development without fertilization, and produces fruits without seeds.

Water Apple

Scientific Name
Syzygium samarangense

Watermelon

Scientific Name
Citrullus lanatus

Persimmon

Scientific Name
Diospyros virginiana

Pineapple

Scientific Name
Ananas comosus

Grapefruit

Scientific Name
Citrus paradisi

Lime

Scientific Name
Citrus aurantifolia

Tangerine

Scientific Name
Citrus tangerina

Fig

Scientific Name
Ficus carica

Apple

Scientific Name
Malus domestica

Banana

Scientific Name
Musa acuminata

Blackberry

Scientific Name
Rubus fruticosus

Breadfruit

Scientific Name
Artocarpus altilis

Cactus Pear

Scientific Name
Opuntia

Cantaloupe

Scientific Name
Cucumis melo

Cucumber

Scientific Name
Cucumis sativus

Eggplant

Scientific Name
Solanum melongena

Grapes

Scientific Name
Vitis vinifera

Guava

Scientific Name
Psidium

Loquat

Scientific Name
Eriobotrya japonica

Papaya

Scientific Name
Carica papaya

Peach

Scientific Name
Prunus persica

Pear

Scientific Name
Pyrus

Java Plum

Scientific Name
Syzygium cumini

Tomato

Scientific Name
Solanum lycopersicum

These were some genetically modified fruits that are readily available in the market today. Scientists are also working on many other fruits like mangoes, custard apple, pomegranates, kiwi, and many more. The Thompson grapes, navel oranges, seedless bananas, and watermelons, in fact, make up over half the United States fruit market. Moreover, countries all over the world are busy cultivating these modern seedless fruits, for they are considered economically valuable, easier and more enjoyable to consume.

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