Hybrid Seed Production in Tomato, Cultural Practices

Crop Management
Hybrid Seed Production in Tomato

Special Cultural Practices

Overview

Healthy plants produce healthy seeds. Pests should be controlled. Nutrient and water management should be optimal to achieve good fruit and seed yield.

Plant Location and Spacings

Male lines are usually planted in a different location to facilitate operations and avoid shading from competing plants. Select a sunny spot to promote maximum production of flowers and pollen.

Male and female lines are planted in double-row raised beds. The height of the bed during the dry season (recommended for seed production) is 20 cm, and the centers of beds are spaced 150 cm apart.

For female lines, the plants are spaced 50 cm apart within the row. Plants are trellised along with plants from the adjoining bed so that work operations can be easily done on the raised bed rather than in the irrigation furrow. For male lines, the plants are spaced 40 cm apart within the row.

Staking and Pruning

The female parent is staked. Staking facilitates the handling of plants during emasculation and pollination. Staking also keeps the ripening fruits above the ground and prevents rotting. Among male lines, only indeterminate types need to be staked.

Removing Off-Types

The male and female lines must be 100% pure. Know the plant habit, leaf type, immature fruit characters (shape, size, green vs. uniform shoulder) of each parent. Regularly inspect the plants.

Remove any off-type (usually inferior) or virus-infected plants before hybridization procedures begin. Symptoms of viruses that attack tomato include yellow mottling of leaves; severe curling, cupping or other distortion of foliage; and stunting of plants.