Any information on this tomato?

[janezee]

I got a tomato called 'FISCHERS VF MOSCOW'
DTM 80, in a round robin trade.

I can't find anything on it, so far, and I was just
wondering about the way it is named. Odd, I'd say.

I've sent a note to Fisher's Farm 1933, asking if they know anything.
Awaiting reply.

It's in the tray germinating, regardless, so if it survives,
I'll have more information in the fall.
But I'd sure like to know something about it now, please.


j

[feldon30]

VF usually stands for Verticillium and Fusarium disease tolerance. This tends to suggest it's a hybrid.

[janezee]

Yes, but I googled Moscow VF, and there isn't one, there isn't a Fischers tomato at all, and I think if it were a hybrid, someone would have listed it somewhere, don't you?

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by janezee

Yes, but I googled Moscow VF, and there isn't one, there isn't a Fischers tomato at all, and I think if it were a hybrid, someone would have listed it somewhere, don't you?

I took a stab at trying to locate some info earlier today and tried all sorts of ways to Google it, checked at Tania's site, but didn't check Tomodori or Ventmarin.

No luck. There are several non-hybrids that have V or F or N, or a combo of those bred in, and in any one SSE Yearbook there are usually about 7 to 8 different Rutgers with various disease tolerances bred in as well as several Marglobes, both of which are OP.

[RebelRidin]

Could this name be a corruption of V.R. Moscow ?

[janezee]

Thanks, Carolyn. I had the same success rate. It was intriguing.

Through a little more detective work, I have been in touch with the person who sent them to the round robin that I joined on another site. This is what I have received:

"The history. Old Man Fischer of Better Homes Nursery and Gardens passed away back in 2003. In the Store House was file cabinets of seeds, left untouched for YEARS. I married into the family and have been working on and sorting the seeds (only tomatoes and peppers). They were just going to throw them away. The seeds were labeled VF MOSCOW. I added the Fischers to know that they were ours should anyone bring up anything I have traded. The seeds, as I understand it, were grown out for many years (we dont know on each variety for how long or source/breeding, only my husbands grandfather knew).
They should be stable. We believe it's been grown in the family for at least 40 years, if not longer. Ive grown them out two years now. A nice medium red slicer should be what you get. It produces well and yes, seems to be disease resistant."

I'm very excited to have received these seeds, and will be growing out two of them (for insurance), and will share the seeds in the fall if all goes well. Woohoo!

j

[puttgirl]

Very interesting, janezee- sounds like a keeper!

http://www.seedsnow.com/products/tomato-vr-moscow

[RebelRidin]

This was labelled as VF Moscow.... The V.R. Moscow is just what I came across. I also noted that the V.R. Moscow was introduced in 1952 which being 60 years ago is more than long enough ago to permit a 40+ year lineage in this family. The medium red slicer description matches up too. I did note that the V.R. Moscow is determinate. I wonder if this VF Moscow is? If that F is for fusarium resistance and that proves out it seems this would be quite the find.

Really interested to see what Janezee finds out this season.

[dice]

Could be a cross with one of the Moscow strains from Utah that someone
bred verticillium and fusarium tolerance into. The Moscow cultivar history
is in this document: http://tgc.ifas.ufl.edu/vol11/v11p36.html

Loran Blood was working in that area at the time and doing a lot of
research on breeding in verticillium tolerance. VF cultivars further
developed from that research were coming from Petoseed, University
of California at Davis, Asgrow, and so on. Look at the list of
"VF [whatever]" cultivars in this document:
http://cuke.hort.ncsu.edu/cucurbit/w.../tomatosz.html

[janezee]

Thank you all for your replies.

My really, really bad. It is VR Moscow. I'm sorry!
I couldn't find the envelope that it was in. Perhaps new glasses? 8-?
No wonder I couldn't find anything on it on Google.
At any rate, it will be interesting to grow. There's quite a lot of information, if I get the name right!
I'll still be willing to share seeds with those with verticillium wilt problems for next year.

Thank you all, again.

jane