There are many trees in nature. Fruit trees that need male and female to bear fruitThat is to say, it is not enough to have a specimen in our garden to enjoy fruit grown by ourselves.
Not all species work this way, but there are many that do need to have specific male and female specimens so that the flowers can be pollinated.
Dioecious fruit trees
Dioecious is a word that derives from the Greek words "di" (two) and "oikos" (house), and is used to define plants that have male and female reproductive organs in separate individuals. In simpler terms, trees that cannot reproduce on their own because the male and female flowers are found on different specimens.
Far from being a disadvantage, dioecy is a evolutionary strategy which has allowed the survival of many plant species by increasing their genetic diversity and adapting to different environments.
Since two individuals are needed for reproduction, greater variability in the offspring is ensured, and this increases the chances of survival of the species.
Pollination in these trees occurs when pollen from the male flowers is carried by the wind or by insects to the female flowers. Therefore, it is important that the male and female specimens are planted more or less close together.
To know if we are dealing with fruit trees that need male and female flowers, the easiest way is to check at the time of purchase, as well as to find out if a particular specimen has male or female flowers.
At first glance it can be difficult to tell them apart. However, as a general rule, male flowers are smaller and have a greater amount of pollen. On the other hand, female flowers are larger and do not show as much pollen.
Fruit trees that need male and female
Here are some of the most common dioecious trees:
Kiwi
El Delicious actinide It is the tree that produces the kiwi that we usually eat, because it is a juicy fruit rich in vitamin C.
In order to have kiwis it is important that male and female specimens are planted near from each other, since pollination is usually done by bees.
In this case we can see a significant difference between the male and female flowers. The male flowers have prominent stamens, while the female flowers have a large pistil and receptive stigmas.
date palm
La Phoenix dactylifera It is a palm tree native to the desert regions of the Middle East that produces dates.
In order for us to enjoy them, the plant with male flowers and the one with female flowers must be close to each other. Although pollination through insects is also possible, in most cases It is the wind that is responsible for carrying pollen from some flowers to others., producing the fertilization that will lead to the appearance of the fruits.
Pistachio
The king of nuts also comes from a dioecious tree. The production of pistachios requires a careful management of plantations, since it is very important to ensure a proper proportion of male and female plantsFor this reason, pistachios usually have a high price on the market.
As regards pollination, in this case it also occurs due to the effect of the wind.
Papaya
La Carica papaya Papaya is a tropical tree native to Central America that produces large, fleshy fruits. Although most papayas are hermaphrodites and can reproduce on their own, there are also some varieties that are dioecious and whose pollination is the responsibility of insects such as bees.
Asparagus
Although it is consumed as a vegetable, asparagus is a perennial plant that produces flowers and fruits, which also happens to be dioecious.
Female asparagus plants produce small red berries containing seeds. However, these cannot be used for commercial asparagus production.
In addition to these five examples, there are many other dioecious plants that you may even have at home. A very notable case is that of the Ginkgo biloba, well known for its antioxidant properties and its ability to improve circulation.
In this case, the male flowers form hanging catkins, while the female ones are small and go unnoticed.
Another example is the holly, a tree that is especially popular during the Christmas holidays. Both male and female specimens are needed for reproduction. In both cases the flowers are small and inconspicuous, but after pollination the flowers of the female specimen transform into the small red berries that are so characteristic of this plant.
Advantages and disadvantages of fruit trees that need male and female
Growing these trees has some benefits, but also drawbacks that need to be kept in mind.
Advantages
- The dioecious nature of the trees increases their genetic diversity and promotes their survival and resistance to pests and diseases.
- Dioecy favors the adaptation of species to changing environmental conditions.
- In some cases, the fruits produced by dioecious plants have greater flavor and quality than those of hermaphrodite plants, precisely because of the greater genetic diversity, which is responsible for preserving the best genes.
Disadvantages
- In order to obtain fruits we have to plant several specimens and ensure that there is a good ratio between trees with male flowers and those with female flowers.
- When the plants are young and have not yet produced flowers, it is It is very difficult to know whether it is a specimen with male or female flowers.
- Pollination of these fruit trees can be a little difficult, because it depends on environmental factors such as wind or the action of insects.
- Compared to hermaphrodite plants, female plants of dioecious species produce less fruits.
Planting fruit trees that need male and female has its advantages and disadvantages. The important thing is that, before planting a fruit tree in your garden, you make sure whether it is dioecious or hermaphrodite, because if it is one of the former, you will not be able to get it to bear fruit on its own.