Sources of wild tomato seeds in EU

[Marek Kvapil]

As most of the tomato genetic diversity still lies in so called "wild tomato" species, I would like to extend my collection to all 13 existing tomato species. The species Solanum Lycopersicum and Solanum Pimpinellifolium are relatively easily available but it seems much more challengening to gain seeds of another tomato species from other sources than national genebanks which I would like to avoid because receiving seeds from them is conditioned by signing an agreement which restricts the future use of the genetic material.

If you know of any non-genebank source of the wild tomato seeds, please put the link into the comments. As I live and garden in the Czech Republic I prefer the seed sources inside the European Union.

Thanks for your tips:-)


marek

[sjamesNorway]

Here's a German company that has some: https://www.magicgardenseeds.com/Tom...-Seeds-T.181-/ I haven't ordered from them, and can't vouch for them.

Steve

[Marek Kvapil]

Thanks, Steve, for the link. It seems they only offer the Solanum Pimpinellifolium which is quite easily available from other sources. I am more interested in other wild tomato species like Solanum Habrochaites, Solanum Pennellii (http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v46...l/ng.3046.html), Solanum Peruvianum, Solanum cheesmaniae, Solanum Neorickii and all the species characterized for example in the study: Morphological Characterization and Relationships of Wild Tomatoes: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/d9a...acc2967621.pdf

[NarnianGarden]

You don't like to purchase from sources outside the EU, but just in case, do check out Trade Winds Fruit..
Theirs is the largest assortment of Solanum species I've seen on-line. Of course not all Solanums are tomatoes, but you will be able to check and see what's there.
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/searc...olanum&Search=

[Marek Kvapil]

Thanks, NarnianGarden, for the link.

I went through all their tomatoes and apart from Solanum Pimpinellifolium they have:

1) Solanum Cheesmaniae which is possibly crossed with common tomato.
2) Solanum lycopersicon humboldtii which is subspecies of common tomato not a separate species.

I will try to order the seeds and I wonder if they will send it to Czech Republic.

[carolyn137]

I know you prefer sources in Europe,but there are at least two persons I know of who are here at Tville who work with landraces who might have something that interests you.

Carolyn

[Marek Kvapil]

Isn´t one of them Joseph Lofthouse? I think he doesn´t send his seeds to EU, does he?

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Marek Kvapil

Isn´t one of them Joseph Lofthouse? I think he doesn´t send his seeds to EU, does he?

Yes,Joseph is just one for I thought of several more.

You said you needed to add them to your collection, but never said why, and that's important in terms of others I might suggest to you.

Do you intend to breed tomatoes and want some of the species since some of them have the genes for tolerance to some diseases?

I have grown several of thes pecies, Cheesmanii, both major and minor variants are two,along with the pimps,as many do, but never saved seeds from any of those.

Sending seeds to you from the US?I don't see the problem since I send seeds to many in Europe,one has to use what's called a Global Forever stamp.The only countries where problems can appear are getting seeds into the Netherlands,since there are many commercial tomato breeding companies there,and also to Australia,since they are trying to control what's called the Potato Tuber Spindle Viroid,which also affects the tomatoes.

Unfortunately I recently read that that viroid has appeared in Canada and the US as well

https://www.google.com/search?q=pota...&bih=788&dpr=1

Carolyn

[MrBig46]

Do not send.
Vladimír

[Marek Kvapil]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Yes,Joseph is just one for I thought of several more.

You said you needed to add them to your collection, but never said why, and that's important in terms of others I might suggest to you.

Do you intend to breed tomatoes and want some of the species since some of them have the genes for tolerance to some diseases?

I have grown several of thes pecies, Cheesmanii, both major and minor variants are two,along with the pimps,as many do, but never saved seeds from any of those.

Sending seeds to you from the US?I don't see the problem since I send seeds to many in Europe,one has to use what's called a Global Forever stamp.The only countries where problems can appear are getting seeds into the Netherlands,since there are many commercial tomato breeding companies there,and also to Australia,since they are trying to control what's called the Potato Tuber Spindle Viroid,which also affects the tomatoes.

Unfortunately I recently read that that viroid has appeared in Canada and the US as well

https://www.google.com/search?q=pota...&bih=788&dpr=1

Carolyn

Yes, one of the reasons why I want to add more wild tomatoes to my collection is I want to use them for breeding more late blight and early blight resistance into tomatoes. But there are other reasons: I want to know them, experience them growing and explore the genetic diversity of tomatoes. I am curious about tomatoes and I like discovering new things. I believe genetic diversity of wild tomatoes is hiding some treasures which still needs to be extracted:-).

Regarding sending seeds to EU: When I was ordering some czechoslovakian heirloom varieties from USDA, ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Unit I had to arrange special permission called Letter of Authority. Only then they were willing to send me the seeds. Nevertheless Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture here in my country will test the plants grown from received seeds and they can tell me to destroy the plants if anything is wrong with them...

[DanishGardener]

http://www.rareplants.de/shop/default.asp?
^These have a few (hirsutum, peruvianum and pimpinellifolium) i have ordered from them myself a couple of times. They will ship to the Czech Republic.
They also have lots of other rare, interesting seeds.

[MrBig46]

Originally Posted by Marek Kvapil

Yes, one of the reasons why I want to add more wild tomatoes to my collection is I want to use them for breeding more late blight and early blight resistance into tomatoes. But there are other reasons: I want to know them, experience them growing and explore the genetic diversity of tomatoes. I am curious about tomatoes and I like discovering new things. I believe genetic diversity of wild tomatoes is hiding some treasures which still needs to be extracted:-).

Regarding sending seeds to EU: When I was ordering some czechoslovakian heirloom varieties from USDA, ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Unit I had to arrange special permission called Letter of Authority. Only then they were willing to send me the seeds. Nevertheless Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture here in my country will test the plants grown from received seeds and they can tell me to destroy the plants if anything is wrong with them...

You forgot to mention that you are trading with seeds of rarer varieties. Not directly, but only a participant can get seed (eg Latah) only when attending your training (very expensive). Nobody knows anything about your research.
Vladimír

[Marek Kvapil]

Originally Posted by MrBig46

You forgot to mention that you are trading with seeds of rarer varieties. Not directly, but only a participant can get seed (eg Latah) only when attending your training (very expensive). Nobody knows anything about your research.
Vladimír

Yes, you are right I am trading with seeds. I am open about it. If you look at my profile you can read there:

"OccupationGardener, seed producer and merchant. Catalogue of my open-pollinated seeds: www.permaseminka.cz"

I am directly selling open-pollinated seeds in small amounts to czech and slovak gardeners. I try to offer them organically grown seeds of varieties that are not easily accessible in my country and that are suitable for organic gardening. You do not have to attend my training to get my seeds including the seeds of Latah. You can buy it directly on my e-shop.

I am already selling some seeds of pimpinellifolium species. But I think apart from pimpinellifolium and galapagense the wild tomato species are more suitable for breeding purposes than for direct selling and gardening. But it is true I might be selling them in the future if I find them suitable for organic growing in the conditions of Czec Republic.

Is there anything wrong about it?

[Marek Kvapil]

Originally Posted by DanishGardener

http://www.rareplants.de/shop/default.asp?
^These have a few (hirsutum, peruvianum and pimpinellifolium) i have ordered from them myself a couple of times. They will ship to the Czech Republic.
They also have lots of other rare, interesting seeds.

Thank you so much for the link! I ordered Lycopersicon hirsutum from them. But Lycopersicon Peruvianum is out of stock

[MrBig46]

Tania, I think of you. Good luck!
Vladimír