Hybrid vigor in tomatoes

Fred Hempel · May 31, 2014

I used to be skeptical that it was common, and I was completely uninterested. Not so much anymore.

There are probably a number of mechanisms by which it can occur, including this one:

http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/...l.pgen.1004043

Now my questions with regard to hybrid vigor are more like: "Is there typically a flavor penalty with yield hybrid vigor?"

Up until now I have been largely ignoring the F1 generation and viewing it as mostly a source of F2 seed which can be selected (to create true-breeding/open-pollinated lines). This is the first year I will be looking more closely at potential cross combinations that might have hybrid vigor.

Anyone want to chime in about their experiences?

May 31, 2014	#1
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	Hybrid vigor in tomatoes I used to be skeptical that it was common, and I was completely uninterested. Not so much anymore. There are probably a number of mechanisms by which it can occur, including this one: http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/...l.pgen.1004043 Now my questions with regard to hybrid vigor are more like: "Is there typically a flavor penalty with yield hybrid vigor?" Up until now I have been largely ignoring the F1 generation and viewing it as mostly a source of F2 seed which can be selected (to create true-breeding/open-pollinated lines). This is the first year I will be looking more closely at potential cross combinations that might have hybrid vigor. Anyone want to chime in about their experiences?