Seedless watermelons are created by crossing a regular watermelon with 22 chromosomes with one that’s been chemically treated to have 44 chromosomes. The resulting hybrid has 33 chromosomes, making it sterile and seedless.
This is a bit misleading. You only need to treat the first generation of 2n watermelon with colchicine (which inhibits the movement of chromosomes during metaphase) to produce a 4n watermelon.
Once you have a 4n watermelon, subsequent generations do not require colchicine treatment.
TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
They’re often treated with hormones.
I sort of misspoke with regard to watermelons -
dondelelcaro@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
This is a bit misleading. You only need to treat the first generation of 2n watermelon with colchicine (which inhibits the movement of chromosomes during metaphase) to produce a 4n watermelon. Once you have a 4n watermelon, subsequent generations do not require colchicine treatment.
TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Ah, OK. That makes sense. Thank you.
Hadriscus@lemm.ee 2 weeks ago
Not the person you replied to but thanks. Doesn’t that contradict the meme ?