| Eunuch Watermelons Invade Markets |
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| Written by Heather McKee | |
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | |
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Seedless watermelons are eunuchs, the mules of the melon world, but somehow they have managed to populate everything from grocery stores to farmer's markets. As you might imagine, it's not easy creating watermelon seeds that produce seedless watermelons. In an interview on NPR, University of California plant scientist Tracy Kahn described the process. First, watermelon plants are treated with the chemical colchicine to double the chromosomal number in their seeds (by inhibiting mitosis.) Then, the plants produced from these diploid seeds are then crossed with each other to produce triploids. These offspring have three sets of chromosomes, and no seeds. Hmm, colchicine seems harmless enough, after all it comes from crocus flowers - but how and where is it being applied? Is it possible that this intense, gene-altering chemical could also be inhibiting honeybee mitosis or reproduction? Regardless of whether colchicine is applied “safely” in a laboratory or not, sadly, it looks like this summer won't have many watermelon seed-spitting contests. Via NPR
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  written by Gina, July 18, 2008
Then God said " let the land produce vegetation: seed bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it..." Genesis, 1:11
written by Ivan H., July 27, 2008
ok, the comment on colchicine being safe by commiung from crocus flowers is just plain retarded... I mean practically all of the ten strongest poisons are natural products...
on the other hand, it is used only to develop tetraploids, and nothing of it remains later... not even the most homeopathic of doses... and, this thing with tetraploid crossed to diploid gives triploid is how they make seedless bananas (duh, ever wondered why bananas don't have seeds :) cheers!
written by Elaine, September 27, 2008
I hadn't even thought through the fact that these melons might be unhealthy, but have been really annoyed that they have totally replaced the watermelons that I enjoyed as a kid. They aren't really "seedless" -- just have those anemic half-formed seeds in them that are just a nuisance. I live too far North to grow these, so the seeds wouldn't be of any real use to me, but I can tell you that if I found a "real" watermelon in the market, I'd be inclined to buy it even if it cost twice what those "seedless" ones did.
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It's true what our moms said...we are what we eat. In fact, it's truer than they thought. What I eat doesn't just affect me anymore, it affects all of us.
Unfortunately, the story of food can sometimes be complicated. But envirovores help each other out...which is why this blog will be bringing you news, tips, and information about food and the environment every step of the way.
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