Sound as the theory was, in practice none of the seed companies in Japan could successfully cultivate the seedless variety on a commercial scale.

The acres in California planted with mandarins, mostly seedless varieties, have grown to 27,000 from 10,000 in 1998.

Florida, still the leading producer of mandarins in the United States, cannot grow high-quality clementines in its climate, and has lagged in introducing seedless varieties.

Scientists also are breeding new seedless varieties, mainly by hybridizing trees with three sets of chromosomes, rather than the normal two.

Merex Chile, a grower and distributor, has developed a seedless variety that is a trifle smaller than the seeded kind but just as delicious.

Seedless All the seedless varieties viz.

Two types of fruits, completely seedless and partly seeded, are borne on a plant of seedless variety.

And seedless varieties are arousing a flurry of interest.

Grapes: seedless varieties, such as Thompson and Glame are ideal with cheese.

About 61 percent of total world exports of oranges and mandarins are of seedless varieties.