Sounds like a worthy project. I remember from something I read back in the 90's a write-up about the Minn. Research Breeding Team under the supervision of David Bedford where the Minn Variety Honeycrisp was cross pollenated in a controlled green house environment. Even under such controlled conditions there is still to this day uncertainty as to the parentage of the famed Honeycrisp apple.
Here is a great read explaining:
"Records and public releases from the University of Minnesota from 1991 to the present have identified the parentage of Honeycrisp as the cross 'Macoun' x 'Honeygold'. But recently completed DNA testing has determined that neither Macoun nor Honeygold are parents of Honeycrisp.
The testing determined for certain that Keepsake, another apple from the University of Minnesota's apple breeding program that was released in 1978, is one of the parents. But, despite extensive searching, the other parent has not been identified. There is no DNA match among any of the varieties that are thought to be possible parents."
Here is another great read explaining seed parentage:
Michael Pollan, the author of
"Botany of Desire," gave an
interview on NPR in which he said,
"...what happens when you plant apples from seed is you get all different kinds of apples. Every single seed in an apple produces a different variety, most of which are useless. However, apples grown from seed are perfectly good for making cider."
I hope this provides some insights into what to expect growing from seeds and the challenges of identifying, "Who are my parents?".
