Black Tom Seed

bonekittyslug · March 29, 2006

Hey Folks,

Been growing a SFT in a 8" pot in window at work.

Picked first ripe mater yesterday. Sliced 'er open this morning. Really tasty tart flavor. I liked it!

Anyway, some of the seed inside had black dots, some were half black and others were all black. Most, however, appeared normal. Also, there was no discoloration of the gel or surrounding flesh near the black seeds.

Tried searching a few places, but have yet to find an answer as to what this is and what causes it. (Being hopelessly stupid doesn't help either!)

It has been suggested that it could be internal BER. Would that be true even if there were no changes in the flesh?

Any info ya'll could give me on this would be very appreciated!!

TIA

Suze · April 3, 2006

I've had this infrequently happen before, but it was an early season occurrence for the most part. And (if memory serves) I've also seen it suggested that it's some sort of manifestation of BER, but I can't find that information on a search either.

**carolyn137** · April 3, 2006

The Seminis, aka Petoseed, book on Tomato diseases, which I've had for a long time and is excellent and also sold by TGS, clearly describes and pictures both internal and external BER.

And several times since I've been posting online about tomatoes, which goes back to 1990, someone has posted a picture of internal BER at a message site.

There are no outward symptoms at all when it's internal BER.

Since TAMU uses mostly pictures from Petoseed perhaps internal BER is pictured and described there?

bonekittyslug · April 3, 2006

Thanks Suze & Carolyn,

I shall check out TAMU.

Suze · April 4, 2006

See first and third link -- the Univ. of Florida and Oxford Journal ones.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...ck&btnG=Search

bonekittyslug · April 4, 2006

Suze,

Thanks for the links.

Some pretty heavy stuff there

, will take me some time to digest it!

March 29, 2006	#1
bonekittyslug Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SW VA Zone 6b-7a Posts: 176	Black Tom Seed Hey Folks, Been growing a SFT in a 8" pot in window at work. Picked first ripe mater yesterday. Sliced 'er open this morning. Really tasty tart flavor. I liked it! Anyway, some of the seed inside had black dots, some were half black and others were all black. Most, however, appeared normal. Also, there was no discoloration of the gel or surrounding flesh near the black seeds. Tried searching a few places, but have yet to find an answer as to what this is and what causes it. (Being hopelessly stupid doesn't help either!) It has been suggested that it could be internal BER. Would that be true even if there were no changes in the flesh? Any info ya'll could give me on this would be very appreciated!! TIA __________________ More Harvest, Mark The life of a cat...Sleep 'til you're hungry...Eat 'til you're tired! Spay or neuter your best friend!!

April 3, 2006	#3
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	The Seminis, aka Petoseed, book on Tomato diseases, which I've had for a long time and is excellent and also sold by TGS, clearly describes and pictures both internal and external BER. And several times since I've been posting online about tomatoes, which goes back to 1990, someone has posted a picture of internal BER at a message site. There are no outward symptoms at all when it's internal BER. Since TAMU uses mostly pictures from Petoseed perhaps internal BER is pictured and described there? __________________ Carolyn

April 3, 2006	#4
bonekittyslug Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SW VA Zone 6b-7a Posts: 176	Thanks Suze & Carolyn, I shall check out TAMU. __________________ More Harvest, Mark The life of a cat...Sleep 'til you're hungry...Eat 'til you're tired! Spay or neuter your best friend!!

April 4, 2006	#6
bonekittyslug Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SW VA Zone 6b-7a Posts: 176	Suze, Thanks for the links. Some pretty heavy stuff there , will take me some time to digest it! __________________ More Harvest, Mark The life of a cat...Sleep 'til you're hungry...Eat 'til you're tired! Spay or neuter your best friend!!

April 3, 2006	#2
Suze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,027	I've had this infrequently happen before, but it was an early season occurrence for the most part. And (if memory serves) I've also seen it suggested that it's some sort of manifestation of BER, but I can't find that information on a search either.