Plant Sports: Genetic Mutations That Create New Varieties

A plant sport is a spontaneous genetic mutation (faulty chromosomal replication) producing a visibly and genetically distinct segment. Not caused by environment; can be inheritable.

Examples

• Climbing roses are sports of bush forms (e.g., ‘Climbing Peace’ from ‘Peace’).
• ‘Grand Gala’ and ‘Big Red Gala’ apples from ‘Gala’.
• Nectarine from peach.
• Bud sports cause variegation (chlorophyll loss → white/yellow leaf areas).
• Other variations: leaf size, form, texture.

What to Do

Sports often revert or die. If desirable, try rooting the mutated section to stabilize the trait. Could become a new cultivar.

Nature’s surprises—sometimes garden gold.