Gold Flecking

DonnaMarieNJ · August 29, 2015

I've noticed "gold specks" on about six varieties that I grew this year. Most of the fruit that were affected were from "new-to-me" seed. One plant was from my saved seed.

Googling, I found this: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/pro...oldfleck1.html

My question is, can I save seed from affected fruit? It looks very pretty, but I know it is not normal.

TIA

Donna

Salsacharley · August 29, 2015

I too have a few varieties with the gold flecking. It is only on some new unreleased varieties I'm growing for a big time breeder. I thought it was a genetic trait intentionally introduced because it looks absolutely magnificent on the fruit. I'm going to have to raise this issue with the breeder. The fruit tastes just fine. Now I'm bummed.

DonnaMarieNJ · August 29, 2015

I assume that I can't save seed from these? What do you think?

Salsacharley · August 30, 2015

I saved seeds from these before I was aware of the issue of gold flecking. I would guess that unless the flecking is a virus that can be carried in the seed it shouldn't matter. One way to find out, and I'm going to find out, is to use the seeds next season. The fruits looked normal on the inside and tasted fine.

Salsacharley · August 30, 2015

Here's a picture of a couple of gold flecked tomatoes.

August 30, 2015

Those are weird- look like they have been nuked!

**carolyn137** · August 30, 2015

I went searching for a link I had in my faves, only to find it was no longer active. So I Googled Gold Fleck and here's that link.

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...ck+of+tomatoes

If you read several of the links you'll see it's a physiological problem, not infectious and for commercial farmers loss of marketability due to cosmetic issues.

As long as it's physiological I see no reason why seeds could not be saved, but to be honest I don't know how those physiological problems might affect seeds.

PErhaps do a test run with a couple of fruits, process seeds the way you normally do and then check the germination.

Carolyn

ContainerTed · August 30, 2015

The study in the link seems to strongly support an insect was responsible for the flecking. Good candidates would be fruit flies, fungus gnats, stinkbugs, grasshoppers, other various
flies, bees, various butterflies, and the list can go on and on.

In any case, I don't think it is a bacteria type disease of any sort. I think seeds are just fine and won't carry anything to the next plants. I also think it's time to return to a lot more spraying of insecticides, including preventative sprays, to eliminate this kind of damage. As bad as I hate to say it, this may be the result of too much organic emphasis and not enough attention to not letting those critters "have their share", so to speak.

Okay, that's my rant for the week. I'm off to check my supplies of Malithion.

Sometimes, I wonder if we can still find someone with a stash of DDT.

DonnaMarieNJ · August 30, 2015

Yes, that is what my fruit looks like - it is actually very pretty, but not wanted.

I saw what you posted Carolyn, way back when in t'ville, and I had already googled it which is how I came up with that link in my first post.

Thanks for your opinions as to whether or not I could/should save seed. The gold-flecking affected more plants than I had originally thought and I was so upset thinking I would have to throw out all of my 2015 seeds.

heirloomtomaguy · August 30, 2015

I see an increase in gold flecking in my fruit when i have an infestation of spider mites. Last year i had an infestation of thrips and had very little gold flecking. For me im convinced it is the spider mites in my case.

zipcode · August 31, 2015

I also have some on my only two plants which have a bigger spider mite infestation. But the mites don't seem to be on the fruit itself, quite strange.
Also, the effect seems to form on the part that is exposed to the sun. I personally think it's a nutrition problem, and mites might just affect the health of the plant enough for this to happen.

DonnaMarieNJ · August 31, 2015

And then there's THIS article which says it is NOT caused by thrips or mite feeding:

https://www.extension.umd.edu/sites/...%20feeding.pdf

So confusing.

August 29, 2015	#1
DonnaMarieNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northeast New Jersey Posts: 726	Gold Flecking I've noticed "gold specks" on about six varieties that I grew this year. Most of the fruit that were affected were from "new-to-me" seed. One plant was from my saved seed. Googling, I found this: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/pro...oldfleck1.html My question is, can I save seed from affected fruit? It looks very pretty, but I know it is not normal. TIA Donna __________________ DonnaMarieNJ I pay the mortgage, but my cats own the house!

August 29, 2015	#3
DonnaMarieNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northeast New Jersey Posts: 726	I assume that I can't save seed from these? What do you think? __________________ DonnaMarieNJ I pay the mortgage, but my cats own the house!

August 30, 2015	#7
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	I went searching for a link I had in my faves, only to find it was no longer active. So I Googled Gold Fleck and here's that link. https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...ck+of+tomatoes If you read several of the links you'll see it's a physiological problem, not infectious and for commercial farmers loss of marketability due to cosmetic issues. As long as it's physiological I see no reason why seeds could not be saved, but to be honest I don't know how those physiological problems might affect seeds. PErhaps do a test run with a couple of fruits, process seeds the way you normally do and then check the germination. Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

August 30, 2015	#8
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	The study in the link seems to strongly support an insect was responsible for the flecking. Good candidates would be fruit flies, fungus gnats, stinkbugs, grasshoppers, other various flies, bees, various butterflies, and the list can go on and on. In any case, I don't think it is a bacteria type disease of any sort. I think seeds are just fine and won't carry anything to the next plants. I also think it's time to return to a lot more spraying of insecticides, including preventative sprays, to eliminate this kind of damage. As bad as I hate to say it, this may be the result of too much organic emphasis and not enough attention to not letting those critters "have their share", so to speak. Okay, that's my rant for the week. I'm off to check my supplies of Malithion. Sometimes, I wonder if we can still find someone with a stash of DDT. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

August 30, 2015	#9
DonnaMarieNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northeast New Jersey Posts: 726	Yes, that is what my fruit looks like - it is actually very pretty, but not wanted. I saw what you posted Carolyn, way back when in t'ville, and I had already googled it which is how I came up with that link in my first post. Thanks for your opinions as to whether or not I could/should save seed. The gold-flecking affected more plants than I had originally thought and I was so upset thinking I would have to throw out all of my 2015 seeds. __________________ DonnaMarieNJ I pay the mortgage, but my cats own the house!

August 29, 2015	#2
Salsacharley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,052	I too have a few varieties with the gold flecking. It is only on some new unreleased varieties I'm growing for a big time breeder. I thought it was a genetic trait intentionally introduced because it looks absolutely magnificent on the fruit. I'm going to have to raise this issue with the breeder. The fruit tastes just fine. Now I'm bummed.

August 30, 2015	#6
JoParrott Guest Posts: n/a	Those are weird- look like they have been nuked!

August 30, 2015	#10
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	I see an increase in gold flecking in my fruit when i have an infestation of spider mites. Last year i had an infestation of thrips and had very little gold flecking. For me im convinced it is the spider mites in my case. __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

August 31, 2015	#11
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	I also have some on my only two plants which have a bigger spider mite infestation. But the mites don't seem to be on the fruit itself, quite strange. Also, the effect seems to form on the part that is exposed to the sun. I personally think it's a nutrition problem, and mites might just affect the health of the plant enough for this to happen.