What determines the volume of seed cells?

[Anthony_Toronto]

Some years my tomatoes are very solid with small seed cells, other years the volume of seed cells is significant in comparison to the volume of flesh. One variety (that I believe to be Arkansas Traveller, or a hybrid thereof) has tomatoes that are almost solid flesh some years, and almost all gel in other years (or at different times throughout the season). Just wondering if anyone knew the reason, or a reason.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Anthony_Toronto

Some years my tomatoes are very solid with small seed cells, other years the volume of seed cells is significant in comparison to the volume of flesh. One variety (that I believe to be Arkansas Traveller, or a hybrid thereof) has tomatoes that are almost solid flesh some years, and almost all gel in other years (or at different times throughout the season). Just wondering if anyone knew the reason, or a reason.

So are you talking about the size of the locules inside of which the seeds are found and if so, yes weather is probably the reason for seeing differences with a singlevariety in different eyars.

But it also depends on specific varieties since some have very few seeds inside the locules or more seeds having nothing to do with weather or locule size,just the genetics of specific varieties which dictates that.

Carolyn

[Anthony_Toronto]

Hi Carolyn, thanks! Yes I was indeed asking about the locules, and moreso about differences that I have seen in the same varieties from year to year. Figured it was probably weather related, and that it was just something I'd have to live with in the varieties that I enjoy. A friend to whom I gave seedlings grew her own tomatoes for the first time this year and enjoyed the process and results...she grew brandy sudduth, KBX, Arkansas traveller, and Cherokee purple, and said that she like the CP the least because of how big the seed cells were, and I don't find them to be so in general but did this year, so thought I'd better research and inquire.