Black Stamens?

duajones · October 11, 2008

On 5 of the 6 plants that I am growing, the center of the flowers are turning black or a dark color. The pedals are staying a nice yellow color but the stamens are turning this dark color for some reason. Not every flower, but most with the exception of black cherry which doesnt seem to be effected. Fruitset is down on most plants so I am thinking this may be the cause. Found nothing with a Google search

dice · October 11, 2008

I have seen that when I was trimming flowers and
cross-pollenating by hand and I damaged the stamen
some way. Once they turn dark on the tips of the stamens,
they are toast, and pollenation is a lost cause. Black stamens
may simply be a more advanced case of physical damage to the
stamen.

Maybe some insect is doing it, or perhaps it could be a reaction
to a salt breeze, something like that.

TZ-OH6 · October 11, 2008

Does it look like this?

http://www.tomatoville.com/attachmen...7&d=1217684346

from this thread

http://tomatoville.com/showthread.ph...&highlight=bee

The color darkens on the second day and beyond.

duajones · October 11, 2008

No, the stamens are much darker. I am thinking it is an insect problem but have no idea what. thrips maybe?

October 11, 2008	#1
duajones Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Corpus Christi,Texas Z9 Posts: 1,996	Black Stamens? On 5 of the 6 plants that I am growing, the center of the flowers are turning black or a dark color. The pedals are staying a nice yellow color but the stamens are turning this dark color for some reason. Not every flower, but most with the exception of black cherry which doesnt seem to be effected. Fruitset is down on most plants so I am thinking this may be the cause. Found nothing with a Google search

October 11, 2008	#2
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	I have seen that when I was trimming flowers and cross-pollenating by hand and I damaged the stamen some way. Once they turn dark on the tips of the stamens, they are toast, and pollenation is a lost cause. Black stamens may simply be a more advanced case of physical damage to the stamen. Maybe some insect is doing it, or perhaps it could be a reaction to a salt breeze, something like that. __________________ -- alias

October 11, 2008	#3
TZ-OH6 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mid-Ohio Posts: 850	Does it look like this? http://www.tomatoville.com/attachmen...7&d=1217684346 from this thread http://tomatoville.com/showthread.ph...&highlight=bee The color darkens on the second day and beyond.