Question
i have collected apple seeds from some 20-40 year old trees in the south of ireland. i would like to know if they might be worth growing, in other words would they have escaped the hybridized issue. would they be original specimens or is the propogation method the way it was always done. i will be growing them in ireland any suggestions

Answer
Tom,

Any seed that is produced by an apple tree is genetically different from the parent because hybridizing nature of sexual reproduction.  To maintain desired fruit traits apple trees are grafted.  You could always plant these seeds and see what happens, but they will not be exactly like the tree they came from.

Gary