The pollenless blossom syndrom

[z_willus_d]

Last year, I had one plant (well almost two), a Lucky Strike, that while robust, healthy as any of its peers, and full of beautiful blossoms failed to set fruit even once. It was within a couple feet of two other vines in the same bed that were some of my heaviest producers. I use a vibrating toothbrush to aid in pollination, and that LS received just as much if not more special vibes as any of my other plants. So why did it never set fruit? That I never learned.

Now this year I'm growing one mystery plant that my father told me was his favorite tomato ever, an orange but that's all he knows about it. The seeds were sitting in his garage for a couple years, and I was only able to germinate this one plant. Well this vine has been a beautiful potato leaf with strong green growth and loads of blossoms. It's surrounded on all sides by plants that are setting fruit just fine. I fear that this mystery orange, the last I will ever find, may end up childless like my Lucky strike from last year, and I really was looking forward to trying it and saving seeds for my Dad.

It's blossoms seem just fine, but when I vibrate them with the toothbrush (even when I know they're prime for mating), I never see the expected pollen swish out the flower tip. I can't account for this. As you can see from the pic with the barren truss and final blossom ready to drop, I am loosing the battle here. I'm curious if there is some known condition where a plant will just be barren. Maybe a genetic defect or some other condition? I wonder if there's anything more I can do to help this beautiful mystery plant along. I'm also wondering if I should pull the thing out and make this prime space available for a mule that can hull?

Appreciate any insight folks might have.
Thanks,
Naysen