Final answer:
To get another apple tree that produces tasty apples, you should use asexual reproduction methods like grafting. Grafting ensures the new tree is genetically identical to the parent, hence preserving fruit quality. Methods such as stem cuttings and using ethylene gas for ripening are also effective.
Step-by-step explanation:
If an apple tree produces tasty apples, to get another tree that grows tasty apples, you would typically use a method of asexual reproduction such as grafting, rather than planting seeds. This is because most woody plants, including apple trees, do not breed true from seeds. The seeds will likely produce apples that are not as desirable as those from the parent tree. In asexual reproduction, a part of the parent plant is used to produce a new plant that is genetically identical to the parent, ensuring the same qualities, such as taste, are preserved.
One common method is to take a stem cutting from the desired apple tree and graft it onto a rootstock. This piece of stem, which includes dormant buds, can then grow into a new tree that produces apples with the same characteristics as the original tree. Cultivators can also induce this stem to produce flowers and eventually fruit, much in the line of what is described when stems collected in February and placed in a warm environment start flowering.
Another interesting aspect to consider is the role of ethylene in fruit ripening. When a ripe apple or banana is placed with an unripe fruit in a closed container, the ethylene gas produced by the ripe fruit speeds up the ripening process of the other fruit. This displays not only a fascinating aspect of plant biology but also a practical tip for ripening fruit at home.