saving seeds of BER and other undesirable tomatoes

[adamp]

I was thinking that it should be fine to save the seeds of BER tomatoes, but I was wondering if anyone has found that not to be the case. I've tried reading online and I only found brief references that said you should save the seeds of the best tomatoes. I would have thought that all of the seeds would be the same.
Is there any reason why seeds from the BER tomatoes will be inferior?

(this is my first year growing tomatoes)

Thanks for your help,
Adam

[TZ-OH6]

I don't know if scientific testing supports this, but logically, if/since BER is caused by a mineral deficiency (calcium) the seeds would be affected (low calcium) the same as everything else. By saving seeds from the largest, healthy fruits you are ensuring that the seeds had the best nutrition while developing.

[adamp]

My thinking was that they should be genetically identical to seeds from the best fruit. The question is, are there properties of seeds other than their genes that carry over into the next plant? (In my very limited knowledge, the only such property that I can think of would be the fraction of seeds that will actually germinate.)

Does anyone have direct experience with BER seeds, or have a scientific explanation for why they will be good or bad?

[Ruth_10]

I believe that what TZ-OH6 is suggesting is that although genetically the seeds will be the same in BER fruit as in other fruits, seeds (which in addition to the genetic material also include substances that support germination and feed the newly germinated seedling as well) in BER fruit may not be as nutritionally complete or strong as those from good fruit. If the BER seeds are all you have, it's worth a try, IMO. Otherwise wait for a good-looking fruit(s) to save seed from.