Dear Ben: Thanks for your message. I can tell you that Cox's orange in the 30's tasted the same as one in 2003, short by 30+ years of the 100 you mentioned, however I can also say that the color of the apple, size etc., has not changed, by comparison with colored plates from 100+ years ago. You state that vegetative propagation is needed for vigor, but in fruit, apples are a good example, is it not the under stock that provides the vigor and different stocks influence the size and vigor of the trees, but would not affect the taste, or would they? If they do then young fruit trees would never taste the same, or am I missing something? Cheers, John E. Bryan zonneveld wrote: > > Dear John > The fact that you see nor taste any difference does not mean that > in several genes there could be changes. Moreover any detrimental > genes are, I am sure, selected against by taking the proper > cuttings. By the way do you know how the original Cox Orange of > 100 years ago tasted? Lastly exceptions confirm the rule, most > clones of vegetatively propagated plants have to be replaced by > new ones due to loss of vigour. > Ben J.M.Zonneveld > Institute of Biology,Leiden University, Clusius lab > Wassenaarse weg 64, 2333 AL Leiden, The Netherlands > Zonneveld@rulbim.Leidenuniv.NL > Fax: +31-71-5274999. min temp -10C (15F) > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php