how to breed a new tomato variety & hybridise

[happyprince]

Hi,
I would like to learn about how to breed a new "stabilized" tomato variety... I will try to hybridise,cross pollinate a few tomato varieties this year.I would like to learn one more thing about hybridising: If I hybridise two varieties and get good results,then if I do the same process next year , will I get the same results?I mean will I get the same hybrid tomato carrying the same features? All the ideas will be highly appreciated...Thanks in advance...

[GunnarSK]

Originally Posted by happyprince

Hi,
I would like to learn about how to breed a new "stabilized" tomato variety... I will try to hybridise,cross pollinate a few tomato varieties this year.I would like to learn one more thing about hybridising: If I hybridise two varieties and get good results,then if I do the same process next year , will I get the same results?I mean will I get the same hybrid tomato carrying the same features?

Basically yes. If you cross two stabilized varieties, the resulting hybrid is predictable: The same genes (properties) will produce the same again, and if there is a difference, whatever is dominant will prevail. But there are plenty of expert breeders around, and perhaps some of them will chime in.

[Blanesgarden]

happyprince has no zone listed.
just currious where from?
because if your in zone 9 or higher...your breeding window is about to slam shut.
(too hot)

zone 8 and below, right now is time, depending how far along your plants are.

Have you chose your parents yet?
I'll be more than happy to try and hang with you, and we have many videos posted on this topic too.

[Blanesgarden]

Oh wow!
I just read that you are from Turkey.
I lived in Adana in 91-92.
You are in a hot zone! Right on the mediterranean coast.
Do you have plants in and ready to go...we need to get started ...like Today!

[Blanesgarden]

In this 1st pic,
A flower at the stage of when you want to remove the sepals (outer green part) the petals (yellow in side of sepals) and the anther cone (inside of it all)



If you wait until the petals are pulled back or the stigma is exposed, it might be too late and it will self pollinate.

Here is what the flower should look like after you have made the emasculation.



After you have done a few of these, Its now time to go collect pollen from you male donor.

Right around high noon to 4 pm...is the perfect window to get pollen.
Look for flowers that have the petals pulled back, like this -



By using an electric toothbrush, you can collect the pollen with ease.
Place an old sunglass lense underneith to catch the dust -



Make sure you lable, both the emasculated flower, and the male donor so you wont lose track of whats what.

[Blanesgarden]

I'll be doing a few later today myself...so the next step, will show a pic of how to apply the pollen.

[Imp]

Okay, dumb questions, Blane-

What do you use to pull all the petals and all off with? Just pull them or cut them?

Don't laugh now either, but what is the name for the long sticky out part on the flower in the picture after you emasculated it ( if that is the right term?)?

[garden_vato]

i believe that's the pistil, if i remember right. great tutorial blane, and that is one very pretty tomato in your picture there.

[carolyn137]

In addition to those here who have been involved with breeding new varieties, I'd like to link to Keith Mueller's excellent site which goes step by step, with pictures, discussions of how to dehybridize the initial hybrid from two open pollinated parents and so much more.

Keith is a very experienced hybridizer and has many varieties that he's released to the public that have become popular with lots of folks.

Here's the link:

http://www.kdcomm.net/~tomato/index.html

Start by clicking on CULTURE and the articles on how to make crosses, etc., and some basics about gene segregation, etc.

But by all means when you have time do read the other sections of his website b'c it has so much wonderful information.

Hope this helps.

Carolyn

[peapicker]

Pistil is correct and the parts that produce the pollen are the stamens
There are six on most flowers with one pistil
I have not done tomatoes,however on other plants I remove a stamen with reverse tweezers or forceps and bring it to the pistil
Some times I remove the petals and sepals from the pollen donor and take the whole bloom to the pistil
I sometimes freeze the pollen for a later date.