Anyone ever cross pollinated different tomato plants?

[Night23]

I've got 2 varieties growing one is Roma (an oval, meaty tomato) the
other is cherry tomato (not sure which type).

Would it be possible to cross pollinate the two one they have flowered?

If anyone has ever done it, could you please tell me how its done? Or
if you have any websites detailing the procedures it would help a lot.

So far I have discovered this website. Is this the way its usually
done?

http://www.kcinter.net/~mule/Tomato/xingtom.html

Thanks

[Bill Morgan]

In article <3B217EBB...@nightynight.com>, Night23
<nig...@nightynight.com> wrote:

> I've got 2 varieties growing one is Roma (an oval, meaty tomato) the
> other is cherry tomato (not sure which type).
>
> Would it be possible to cross pollinate the two one they have flowered?

Yes, it is possible, but difficult with most types of tomatoes. Or at least
difficult until one has some practice at it (as with most things).

The reason is that in most tomatoes, the stamens are much longer than the
pistil, and they mature before the stigma is ready to take pollen. Thus,
most tomato flowers are pollinated by themselves: the pollen simply falls
from the anthers onto the stigma. This may happen even before the flower
opens.

There are exceptions, of course. Older indeterminate types (especially the
potato-leaf type tomatoes have longer pistils and can outcross more readily
than more "modern" types. Some of the beefsteak tomatoes have double
flowers, which are more open than other flowers, and these may get pollen
from outside sources. And currant tomatoes (a different species) retain the
long pistil trait of their wild ancestors, just as the potato-leaf types
do.

Neither of your tomatoes are covered by these exceptions, unless your
cherry tomato is somehow a potato-leaf type.

> If anyone has ever done it, could you please tell me how its done? Or
> if you have any websites detailing the procedures it would help a lot.
>
> So far I have discovered this website. Is this the way its usually
> done?
>
> http://www.kcinter.net/~mule/Tomato/xingtom.html

This seems to be about right. It is a process that requires some skill.

You might take a look at:

http://www.seedsavers.org/

The site does not cover this information, but does sell a book "Seed to
Seed" which explains the ins and outs of this kind of thing for many crops,
not just tomatoes.

Regards,
Bill

"Those who do not learn the lessons of science fiction are condemned to
live them."--William T. Morgan

[Night23]

Bill Morgan wrote:
> The reason is that in most tomatoes, the stamens are much longer than the
> pistil, and they mature before the stigma is ready to take pollen. Thus,
> most tomato flowers are pollinated by themselves: the pollen simply falls
> from the anthers onto the stigma. This may happen even before the flower
> opens.

Bill,
What if I slice open the flower bud before it has opened and remove
the stamen (anther cone) with a razor. Then pollinate the stigma after a
couple of days by rubbing it against the anthers of the other plant?

Is that essentially what I have to do?

Also, is there any way to store pollen or is it just too small to the
naked eye to be seen & collected in a vile and put in the refrigerator
for use next summer?

Thanks

[Bill Morgan]

In article <3B228D31...@nightynight.com>, Night23
<nig...@nightynight.com> wrote:

> Bill Morgan wrote:
> > The reason is that in most tomatoes, the stamens are much longer than the
> > pistil, and they mature before the stigma is ready to take pollen. Thus,
> > most tomato flowers are pollinated by themselves: the pollen simply falls
> > from the anthers onto the stigma. This may happen even before the flower
> > opens.
>
> Bill,
> What if I slice open the flower bud before it has opened and remove
> the stamen (anther cone) with a razor. Then pollinate the stigma after a
> couple of days by rubbing it against the anthers of the other plant?
>
> Is that essentially what I have to do?

Pretty much, yes. The website you indicated previously describes this
process better than I am able to. The step you omitted is that after the
initial surgery, you need to bag the remaining pistil so it doesn't get
pollen other than the type you want to give it.

> Also, is there any way to store pollen or is it just too small to the
> naked eye to be seen & collected in a vile and put in the refrigerator
> for use next summer?

You could easily collect it in a vial and store it. I have no idea if it
would be viable after that time. I'm guessing that it would not be, but
that's just a guess.

Frankly, considering that there are hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of
tomato cultivars around, I rather doubt the utility of trying to create
one's own new hybrids or varieties unless one has a keen interest in that
kind of thing. In other words, if you have fun with that kind of work,
great. But if you're just trying to get some kind of tomato that is
intermediate in character between Roma and a cherry type, there are already
such cultivars available. (Of course commercial breeders have another very
good reason for doing such things: it's part of the job...)

But in either case, best of luck.