There are conflicting references in Webber's The Citrus Industry. In Volume 1, Chapter 4, Ponderosa lemon is described as "seedy and monoembryonic" while in Volume 2, Chapter 4, it is attributed to "have a very low degree of polyembryony." A recent post in this thread suggests the latter.

Quote:

My ponderosa lemon seedlings are doing great...There's even one seed that grew into 4 seedlings...

So which is it? Have others noted multiple seedlings as well?

I don't see any significant conflict between the two statements if they are understood in a proper context. V1 Chapter 4 for example, seedy and monoembryonic, should be taken as generalization, and V2 Chapter 4 has better specific details taking into account realistic probabilities. I for one hate generalizations as the absolute guidelines. In fact scientific knowledge advances by leaps and bounds by analyzing those that deviate from generalizations. I would take V2 Chapter 4, as a better description.

In a similar way when someone states "Pummelos are self-incompatible", I'd rather have a better statement which states that "Pummelos tend to have strong self-incompatibility".

I find the first statement to be misleading and inaccurate as there is no leeway in the wording. It comes across as absolute as there is no further followup in either the paragraph or section in which it appears.

JK what page in volume 2 did you find your quote? I would say Ponderosa is monoembryonic. This web site concerning the embryo nature of citrus seeds list Ponderosa as monoembryonic. - Millet

I don't have the physical book but the quote is from the section Numbers of Embryos and Seedlings which can be viewed here in the online version. It appears about halfway into the section.

Is there supposed to be a link to a list in your response?

I don't know what version the on-line text is taken from, but I have the original Citrus Industry book (1948) and that is not in my volume 2 Chapter 4. - Millet

The online version is the 1968 revised edition as indicated here. The preface notes:

Quote:

Chapter 4 represents a revision of Howard B. Frost’s original chapter on seed reproduction. Robert K. Soost has incorporated much new knowledge on flower biology, embryo development, cytology, and seed germination into this review of the basic biology of seed reproduction in the genus Citrus.

OK, I found it. In the original book the chapter titled - SEED REPRODUCTION: DEVELOPMENT OF GAMETES AND EMBRYOS is Chapter VIII not Chapter 4. In part, the 1968 and 1948 versions are word for word, however in the original 1948 book under the paragraph titled "Numbers of embryos and seedlings" Ponderosa Lemon is not mentioned at all. All in all I believe Ponderosa Lemons are considered monoembryonic. - Millet

Biioline International reports, ...... " Ponderosa and Meyer lemon which are monoembryonic, while cv. Rough Lemon is polyembryonic." - Millet

http://www.bioline.org.br/request?cs00011

I bought Ponderosa seeds from TradeWinds and my seedlings are already longer than 30cm. It is too bad these will not produce real Ponderosa lemons

I have about seven 3yr old Ponderosa seedlings here, 4 are very similar in size, leaf shape, form, etc, etc. Of these, 1 is thornless which i have taken buds from.The rest are smaller, slightly unusual from the rest. I hope to get
a close to type "thornless" Ponderosa.

Used a ponderosa lemon for dinner this evening and the seeds I opened up are monoembryonic, in case anyone wanted independent confirmation.