Breeding Literature/ Books

jaymzroberge · December 1, 2013

I am looking for recommendations for literature and or books on Tomato breeding and genetics that will make it easier to learn for an amateur.

A little history on me: I owned and operated an organic vegetable farm on the Canadian border in northern Vermont. I specialized in green house tomatoes, cukes, and peppers. I had 6000 square feet of tomatoes under cover. I grew standard red green house tomatoes for many years and eventually moved to a majority of my production to heirlooms grafted onto Maxifort rootstock. This is when I got the heirloom tomato addiction. I have collected hundreds of varieties and a few years ago I started breeding with very good success with hand pollination. I am an avid seed saver and I have developed some very interesting breeding lines over the last 10 years. I have read everything I can get my hands on pertaining to tomato breeding and it remains to seem too complex for me to get a good understanding. I am now just making crosses and hopping to get lucky, which I have on some. I want to be able to make better predictions from my crosses. Can any of you help me out?

Fred Hempel · December 1, 2013

I am of the opinion that "better" predictions are not necessarily as important as better observations. I find that most of my best lines have come from crosses where I was trying to "get" something else.

If you know how to hand pollinate, and how to save seeds, you have all the tools you need for tomato breeding. Particularly since they are self-pollinating for the most part.

From your post, it looks like you have a handle on all the steps you need to take (unless you want to add "lab" based analysis of your lines).

If you want to get a better hand on genetics, in general, I would suggest general online tutorials. There are a bunch.

ChrisK · December 1, 2013

Anyone have this book:

Genetics, Genomics, and Breeding of Tomato

Looks like it might be much more geared towards large commercial programs.

ChrisK · December 17, 2014

This book is available in electronic format for $25.

http://xtextbook.com/?product=geneti...of-crop-plants

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisK

Anyone have this book:

Genetics, Genomics, and Breeding of Tomato

Looks like it might be much more geared towards large commercial programs.

Tormato · December 17, 2014

"Plant Breeding for the Home Gardener" is one title (if I remember correctly). I think this is the book that has ~1% (2 pages) of its content on Craig & Patrina's dwarf project.

Dutch · December 17, 2014

I have "Breed Your Own Vegetables Varieties" by Carol Deppe. Dated 1993 - 263 pages
Older than some but easy to read and understand.

Dutch

KarenO · December 17, 2014

I think luck has a lot to do with it frankly

many of the best tomatoes are accidental or natural crosses I think
Unless you are really stuck on having a hard copy book, I think you could find all of the world's knowledge on the subject on the internet. I typed in "tomato breeding and genetics" on my search engine and got 730000 hits.
I haven't read it yet but perhaps someone knows if Craig's new book has a section on crossing tomatoes?
KarenO

kayrobbins · December 17, 2014

Yes, chapter 7 is Breed Your own Tomatoes. I have not made it that far through the book yet so I don't know how detailed it is.

December 1, 2013	#1
jaymzroberge Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Vermont Posts: 1	Breeding Literature/ Books I am looking for recommendations for literature and or books on Tomato breeding and genetics that will make it easier to learn for an amateur. A little history on me: I owned and operated an organic vegetable farm on the Canadian border in northern Vermont. I specialized in green house tomatoes, cukes, and peppers. I had 6000 square feet of tomatoes under cover. I grew standard red green house tomatoes for many years and eventually moved to a majority of my production to heirlooms grafted onto Maxifort rootstock. This is when I got the heirloom tomato addiction. I have collected hundreds of varieties and a few years ago I started breeding with very good success with hand pollination. I am an avid seed saver and I have developed some very interesting breeding lines over the last 10 years. I have read everything I can get my hands on pertaining to tomato breeding and it remains to seem too complex for me to get a good understanding. I am now just making crosses and hopping to get lucky, which I have on some. I want to be able to make better predictions from my crosses. Can any of you help me out?

December 1, 2013	#3
ChrisK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,448	Anyone have this book: Genetics, Genomics, and Breeding of Tomato Looks like it might be much more geared towards large commercial programs. __________________ Blog: chriskafer.wordpress.com Ignorance more frequently begets knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science. --Charles Darwin

December 17, 2014	#6
Dutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: S.E. Wisconsin Zone 5b Posts: 1,831	I have "Breed Your Own Vegetables Varieties" by Carol Deppe. Dated 1993 - 263 pages Older than some but easy to read and understand. Dutch __________________ "Discretion is the better part of valor" Charles Churchill The intuitive mind is a gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. But we have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. (paraphrased) Albert Einstein I come from a long line of sod busters, spanning back several centuries.

December 1, 2013	#2
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	I am of the opinion that "better" predictions are not necessarily as important as better observations. I find that most of my best lines have come from crosses where I was trying to "get" something else. If you know how to hand pollinate, and how to save seeds, you have all the tools you need for tomato breeding. Particularly since they are self-pollinating for the most part. From your post, it looks like you have a handle on all the steps you need to take (unless you want to add "lab" based analysis of your lines). If you want to get a better hand on genetics, in general, I would suggest general online tutorials. There are a bunch.

December 17, 2014	#5
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	"Plant Breeding for the Home Gardener" is one title (if I remember correctly). I think this is the book that has ~1% (2 pages) of its content on Craig & Patrina's dwarf project.

December 17, 2014	#7
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	I think luck has a lot to do with it frankly many of the best tomatoes are accidental or natural crosses I think Unless you are really stuck on having a hard copy book, I think you could find all of the world's knowledge on the subject on the internet. I typed in "tomato breeding and genetics" on my search engine and got 730000 hits. I haven't read it yet but perhaps someone knows if Craig's new book has a section on crossing tomatoes? KarenO

December 17, 2014	#8
kayrobbins Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 820	Yes, chapter 7 is Breed Your own Tomatoes. I have not made it that far through the book yet so I don't know how detailed it is.