Multi-fluted Heart, what does it mean?

peebee · June 3, 2015

This is my first time seeing this although I suspect it is quite common. What is the name of this condition, and what causes it? The rest of the tomatoes on this plant are normal looking. Variety is Cherokee Purple Heart.

KarenO · June 3, 2015

This tomato is from a compound blossom, also known as a fused or megabloom. They result in fused fruit, often misshapen. edible and interesting
KarenO

maf · June 3, 2015

Yes, Karen is right, the technical name for this type of growth is fasciation. What is different about this one compared to the typical megabloom is that the blossom end of the fruit is seperated instead of being fused into a large blossom scar as it normally is. The pistils on the flower would have been seperated rather than fused as you normally see on these type of blooms.

Gardeneer · June 3, 2015

This is totally a different kind of fruit formation from a mega bloom. While the are attached but have maintained their identity. They are more like cherries bunched up.

maf · June 3, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

This is totally a different kind of fruit formation from a mega bloom. While the are attached but have maintained their identity. They are more like cherries bunched up.

No, I think you will find it is like a megabloom fruit at the top of the tomato, and the growth lower down seperated due to individual styles developing from a mega-flower instead of the usual fused curtain like style seen in a more typical megabloom.

ginger2778 · June 3, 2015

Maf's knowledge is impressive. I always learn from him.

maf · June 3, 2015

Thanks Marsha, but you are making me feel all embarrassed now! lol

To understand about these types of abnormal fruits it is imperative to observe the form of the flower before the fruit sets. Which most people don't do, because they only find an interest in what happened after they have observed the unusual tomato growth pattern. My understanding of what happened, (without benefit of seeing photo's of the flower), is that the base of the flower was fused and the styles were seperated. If the OP can post a pic of the stem end of the fruit it should confirm whether it is a single fruit at that end.

Anyway, it is a very interesting looking fruit that should be appreciated. The benefit of this type of growth rather than the typical megabloom is that there is no horrible scar to cut off at the blossom end.

Starlight · June 3, 2015

How unusual. Very interesting to see. Always learning and seeing something new here. : )

PA_Julia · June 4, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by maf

No, I think you will find it is like a megabloom fruit at the top of the tomato, and the growth lower down seperated due to individual styles developing from a mega-flower instead of the usual fused curtain like style seen in a more typical megabloom.

I concur.

Starlight · June 4, 2015

Out of curiosity, will that grow up and make edible tomato?

Jeanus · June 4, 2015

Starlight yes it will it will just be ugly, chopped up they taste the same. LOL NOM NOM

feldon30 · June 4, 2015

I tend to pick off megablooms when I see them as they use a lot of the plant's energy for what is typically a very misshapen tomato.

Starlight · June 4, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeanus

Starlight yes it will it will just be ugly, chopped up they taste the same. LOL NOM NOM

Cool. NOM NOM .

New word. I'll be laughing my head off all day long over that word.

June 4, 2015	#12
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	I tend to pick off megablooms when I see them as they use a lot of the plant's energy for what is typically a very misshapen tomato. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

June 3, 2015	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	This tomato is from a compound blossom, also known as a fused or megabloom. They result in fused fruit, often misshapen. edible and interesting KarenO

June 3, 2015	#3
maf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: England Posts: 512	Yes, Karen is right, the technical name for this type of growth is fasciation. What is different about this one compared to the typical megabloom is that the blossom end of the fruit is seperated instead of being fused into a large blossom scar as it normally is. The pistils on the flower would have been seperated rather than fused as you normally see on these type of blooms.

June 3, 2015	#4
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	This is totally a different kind of fruit formation from a mega bloom. While the are attached but have maintained their identity. They are more like cherries bunched up.

June 3, 2015	#6
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	Maf's knowledge is impressive. I always learn from him.

June 3, 2015	#8
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	How unusual. Very interesting to see. Always learning and seeing something new here. : )

June 4, 2015	#11
Jeanus Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Tennessee Posts: 80	Starlight yes it will it will just be ugly, chopped up they taste the same. LOL NOM NOM