jcm05
Administrator
Posts: 1,685
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Post by jcm05 on Feb 16, 2011 15:37:47 GMT -5
Is one of the genetic traits that results in fruit set being either poor or good the stigma length? What are some of the other factors that determine a variety's ability to set fruit?
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oztom
Tomato Gardener
Posts: 42
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Post by oztom on Feb 18, 2011 10:02:56 GMT -5
Good question Jt. I'd love to see the answer to this when the experts chime in.
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jcm05
Administrator
Posts: 1,685
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Post by jcm05 on Feb 18, 2011 21:08:44 GMT -5
same here oz
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paulf
Tomato Gardener
Posts: 70
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Post by paulf on Feb 19, 2011 8:39:58 GMT -5
Not sure about stigma length, but the way a plant's flower grows, either facing the sky or drooping down to the ground will help determine how well it self pollinates. Pollen will drop onto the stigma in the upward flowers and tend to fall off on the droopers. Some Brandywines, for example, are droopers, therefore tend to have less production. They are the ones that need to be stimulated. Give the blossoms a nice gentle shake every day and see if that helps. Others with more knowledge will have more intelligent comments.
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hillbillypie
Breeder in Training
Tomato Growing Nutjob
Posts: 210
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Post by hillbillypie on Feb 19, 2011 10:58:12 GMT -5
I'm no expert, but I know that almost all of the varieties that set fruit in humid weather seem to have an exerted stigma. Not sure how it relates, just an observation.
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oztom
Tomato Gardener
Posts: 42
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Post by oztom on Feb 19, 2011 21:30:09 GMT -5
That certainly makes sense Paulf.
My Brandywines and a few others suffer terribly in our extreme heat from pollen clumping so I would love to see a list of tomato varieties that have exerted stigmas. I'll start a new thread in the discussion forum.
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