2nd yr evidence: Cherokee Green in my garden

[gardengalrn]

Some of you may recall that my last year's Cherokee Greens were in fact a neon reddish color with green gel. The seeds were sent by Carolyn. Since some others in the southern areas had similar experiences, we thought maybe it was an environmental thing (or crossed seed). IMISSCOLO generously sent me seed for this year and behold what I picked today:






While not quite the neon color of last year, definitely not what was described as a Cherokee Green. Any other southerners having this result?

[carolyn137]

So two different sources and you still get the dark reddish color.

Cherokee Green is a spontaneous mutant of Cherokee Chocolate and one might suggest a back mutation if it weren't for the fact that you're dealing with two different seed sources so the statistical probability of that happening re both soures is very low indeed.

Alternatively, perhaps there's some environmental influence on gene expression, which is known to occur and in this case high heat might be the problem.

I do remember some folks in the south getting the reddish colored CG's last year.

it's starting to sound a bit like the ARGG situation where Craig and others in the south say they get no amber color at all, but when Craig sends me his seeds I get amber as does his friend Jeff in MI.

[Rena]

Interesting.. I have a plant from the same saved seed and it looks just like it did last year. Green with amber blush. I wonder what Green Giant will look like from your area.

[nctomatoman]

It is not environmental but either a cross, mutation or reversion. When I grew out Fusion's amber blushed ChG seed, I got what looks exactly like Cherokee chocolate, from which Cherokee Green originated. It doesn't get much hotter than recent summers in Raleigh, and I've seen nothing but the appropriate green flesh, amber skin result from my saved seed.

[Suze]

I don't think it's environmental either -- record highs here for the last two years as well as very high UV index, and have grown CG twice now -- first time seed was from Victory, second time from my own saved seed. Got some rather attractive green striping on many of the fruits this spring even when dead ripe (probably environmental), but overall appearance was within the norm.

And if it ever reverts on me, I think I'm gonna cry.

[Suze]

Also, if memory serves, there ended up being one or two folks from cooler areas that later reported getting unexpected coloration w/CG last year.

[Lee]

We has this discussion last year as well.... I don't remember
the outcome....

However, from my saved seed, the plant in my dad's garden
came out exactly as before.
The plant (from the exact same seed vial) in my garden
came out like the picture below.

Lee

[Rena]

My original source was Victory. I am sorry if you got a cross from my seeds

[jenn_sc]

Carolyn, I am growing ARGG this year, and I picked the first ones this morning. They have a definite amber blush all over, all three of them. It's pretty hot down here, so is this unusual? I had one fruit last year from my lone ARGG plant, and it wasn't amber like these. (It tasted delicious, too

I have Cherokee Green in my collection but haven't grown it yet. I almost did this year and I wish I had, to see what I would have gotten. Now I'll have to wait until next year.

Jennifer

[Fert1]

Originally Posted by jenn_sc

Carolyn, I am growing ARGG this year, and I picked the first ones this morning. They have a definite amber blush all over, all three of them. It's pretty hot down here, so is this unusual?

I also live in SC, and I've grow ARGG once. Mine definitely had the amber blush. In fact, it got downright pink at the blossom end when ripe. I don't remember how hot it was that year, but in general our summers are pretty grueling. I think Texas does get hotter though. It just tends to be dryer there.

[gardengalrn]

IMISSCOLO, nothing to feel sorry about. It was generous of you to send them, I find it interesting, and it was a great tomato in either case. Win-win situation
I know not a thing about mutations so I will let y'all speculate on it. Another interesting point is that it was mentioned that ARGG didn't get an amber blush for Craig and some other southerners...mine didn't either and I didn't question it. The picture to the left by my name (forget what you call it) has perfectly ripe/delicious ARGG sliced with the other varieties. No amber at all.