JOIN NOW LOG IN
iVillage GardenWeb iVillage GardenWeb THE INTERNET'S GARDEN & HOME COMMUNITY ADVERTISEMENT
Blogs Forums Photo Galleries Ask The Experts Tools & Directories        
Return to the Hybridizing Forum | Post a Follow-Up

 o
How do I keep plant breeding records?

Posted by tammytomato (My Page) on
Fri, Aug 24, 07 at 15:25

Hi there everyone! I have some questions about labeling the plants that I would breed: I want to grow a yellow pear tomato and white beefsteak tomato. If I were to cross breed them together...

1. Which plant should I label (or should I label both?)
2. What should I write on the label?
3. What should I include in my records of this experiment?

Also, if I save the seeds from the resulting tomato, will it grow the same kind of tomato if I plant the seeds from it?

Thank you


Follow-Up Postings:

 o
RE: How do I keep plant breeding records?

TT,

Definitely label the tomato whose seeds you are going to save and place some sort of indicator on the stem of the very flower(s) that you pollinated. I just write a code number on the label (to keep the label small) and in my records (I keep a separate journal for that purpose) I put the code number and details about the cross, including a description of the parents and the date(s) of pollination.

"Also, if I save the seeds from the resulting tomato, will it grow the same kind of tomato if I plant the seeds from it?"

F1 hybrids do not "come true" from seed in the F2 generation, but the F2s vary wildly from the original F1 cross. A small percentage of plants will be very similar to the cross. If you save seeds from them and repeat that operation for several years, you can establish an open-pollinated stable variety from your cross.

Otherwise, you can simply repeat the cross to get an additional supply of the F1 hybrid seeds.

If you are doing this for yourself, a single tomato can supply you with a good supply of F1 seed that might last you for several years.

The book, Breeding New Plants and Flowers by Charles W. Welch, has a chapter on tomatoes. You can get used or slightly shop-worn copies of it for a reasonable price.

The book, Breed your own Vegetable Varieties by Carol Deppe, has a lot information, including lots of information about breeding your own tomato varieties.

I don't breed tomatoes (I do raise them and eat them), but I have both of those books and frequently refer to them because one of my hobbies is amateur zinnia breeding, and they have information relevant to that activity.

MM


 
 

 

 


Click here to learn more about in-text links on this page.



iVillage GardenWeb: The Internet's Garden & Home Community  
  iVillage Home & Garden Network