Sport (botany)

Dwarf Albert Spruce foliage with reversion

Sport (botany) refers to a sudden, natural mutation within a plant's growth, resulting in a new, heritable characteristic that can be very different from the parent plant's features. This phenomenon is also known as a bud variation, as it often occurs in the buds of a plant. Sports have been a significant source of horticultural novelty, leading to the development of many new forms of flowers, fruits, and other plant parts that are then propagated and grown as cultivars.

Causes

The causes of sports in plants are varied and can include genetic mutations, environmental factors, or a combination of both. Genetic mutations may occur spontaneously during cell division or as a result of exposure to certain chemicals or radiation. These mutations can affect a single gene or multiple genes, leading to noticeable changes in the plant's appearance or behavior.

Identification

Identifying a sport involves observing a sudden change in a plant's characteristics, such as flower color, leaf shape, or fruit size, that is not typical for the species or variety. It is important to distinguish sports from normal variations that occur due to environmental conditions. Once identified, the sport can be propagated to produce more plants with the new trait.

Propagation

Propagation of sports is usually done through asexual reproduction methods such as cuttings, grafting, or layering. These methods ensure that the genetic makeup of the sport is preserved in the new plants. In some cases, sports may also be propagated through seeds, although this can result in offspring that do not retain the unique characteristics of the sport.

Examples

Some well-known examples of sports include the nectarine, which is a sport of the peach with a smooth skin; the 'Pink Lemonade' blueberry, which sports pink berries instead of the typical blue; and various forms of variegated plants, where a sport leads to leaves with multiple colors.

Importance in Horticulture

Sports are of great importance in horticulture and plant breeding, as they can introduce new and desirable traits into plants that may not be achievable through traditional breeding methods. Many popular garden plants and agricultural crops we grow today were originally sports that have been selected and propagated for their unique characteristics.