Does an albino seedling have any chance? - Page 2

**carolyn137** · January 24, 2016

Looks to me like a mutation is lurking in the variety Carbon Copy.

Carolyn

KarenO · January 25, 2016

That's cool. I have grown an awful lot of tomatoes and I have never seen a white seedling either.
KarenO

Fusion_power · January 25, 2016

I've seen white mutations in corn but not in tomato. It is interesting that chlorophyll production is impacted but anthocyanin is not. Unfortunately, these seedlings are doomed, lack of chlorophyll will prevent normal growth beyond the cotyledon stage. Grafting onto a normal seedling with normal leaves might allow them to survive and produce fruit.

dfollett · January 25, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fusion_power

I've seen white mutations in corn but not in tomato. It is interesting that chlorophyll production is impacted but anthocyanin is not. Unfortunately, these seedlings are doomed, lack of chlorophyll will prevent normal growth beyond the cotyledon stage. Grafting onto a normal seedling with normal leaves might allow them to survive and produce fruit.

Would it possibly work to split the lower stem vertically and attach it to a normal seedling that I also split the stem on and maintain both root systems? I've never had much luck grafting and can't visualize how to graft it normally and keep green leaves.

Worth1 · January 25, 2016

Maybe they should go in bubbles.
Worth

**carolyn137** · January 25, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfollett

Would it possibly work to split the lower stem vertically and attach it to a normal seedling that I also split the stem on and maintain both root systems? I've never had much luck grafting and can't visualize how to graft it normally and keep green leaves.

ThE grafting would have to be done ASAP after the cotyledon stage and I simply cannot see any grafting/surgical procedures being able to be done at that stage.

But, as is usually said, why not try it, for the benefit of the seedling and in a larger sense, the benefit of the entire tomato community world wide,

Carolyn

AlittleSalt · January 25, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolyn137

ThE grafting would have to be done ASAP after the cotyledon stage and I simply cannot see any grafting/surgical procedures being able to be done at that stage.

But, as is usually said, why not try it, for the benefit of the seedling and in a larger sense, the benefit of the entire tomato community world wide,

Carolyn

I can tell that this mutation/Albino plant isn't going to make it without a lot of help, and "The benefit of the entire tomato community world wide" sounds very good to me.

I have not read about how to graft. So some guidance would be much appreciated

I have plenty of root stock to choose from. I did an early test planting of some Cherokee Purple and Stump of the World from the seeds I got from Worth from 2007. These were started back in mid-December They are still in their cells (I'll add a picture). There are also Ceylon and Purple calabash to choose from in this seed tray. CP are the tallest ones.

You might wonder why the plants are so small? It is an experiment that I am doing that I will explain in a different thread.

clkingtx · January 25, 2016

This sounds really neat! I will be following this thread.

dfollett · January 25, 2016

How long will the energy in the cotyledon's keep it alive? I should ask how long does the energy in the cotyledon's typically keep a seedling alive? (No one can know about this specific one). Do they usually take a seedling to the first few true leaves? I am out of town for a couple of days, so mine is on its own right now.

When I get back home Wednesday, if it is still alive, I will try a graft of sorts, but I want to let it get as large and strong as it will first. Will it likely keel over suddenly or will I see it decline?

Lots of questions - probably no answers......

Worth1 · January 25, 2016

It will die a slow and horrible death from starvation.

Worth

dipchip2000 · January 25, 2016

Robert just called my attention to this thread. I have never seen a white seedling of any variety. I just sowed around 600 Carbon Copy seeds yesterday and will watch them closely. It is a puzzle to me also and will enjoy seeing where if anywhere this leads. I am in agreement that it can not get required energy to grow naturally. Graft away, nothing to lose, kinda exciting waiting for the outcome.

ron

Labradors2 · January 25, 2016

That'll be fun, Ron. Maybe you'll get some variegated CC's to play with. It would be interesting to know what percentage turn out to be albino's. I've never come across one either, but maybe I will when I germinate some CC F7 this year. Not to worry, as I'll grow some extra seeds because I wouldn't want to be without my Carbon Copy!

Linda

4season · January 25, 2016

If plants exude sugars and other phytochemicals from their roots to nourish beneficial bacteria and fungi, they ought to be able to absorb sugar for energy.
As a side note, about 20 years ago I had one normal green tomato plant that had the top turn pure white. I don't remember type or if there was any fruit from the white section.

AlittleSalt · January 25, 2016

The tomato plant still looks like it did in post #6. The cotyledon doesn't look like leaves yet.

So I'm thinking it is too early to attempt to graft?

I did read a lot about grafting and watched a couple of videos, but in all cases, the plants were bigger than the one that I have growing now.

Worth1 · January 25, 2016

I think a graft will kill them at this age.

Worth

January 24, 2016	#16
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Looks to me like a mutation is lurking in the variety Carbon Copy. Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

January 25, 2016	#24
dfollett Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Utah Posts: 693	How long will the energy in the cotyledon's keep it alive? I should ask how long does the energy in the cotyledon's typically keep a seedling alive? (No one can know about this specific one). Do they usually take a seedling to the first few true leaves? I am out of town for a couple of days, so mine is on its own right now. When I get back home Wednesday, if it is still alive, I will try a graft of sorts, but I want to let it get as large and strong as it will first. Will it likely keel over suddenly or will I see it decline? Lots of questions - probably no answers...... Last edited by dfollett; January 25, 2016 at 03:29 PM.

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January 25, 2016	#17
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,922	That's cool. I have grown an awful lot of tomatoes and I have never seen a white seedling either. KarenO

January 25, 2016	#18
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	I've seen white mutations in corn but not in tomato. It is interesting that chlorophyll production is impacted but anthocyanin is not. Unfortunately, these seedlings are doomed, lack of chlorophyll will prevent normal growth beyond the cotyledon stage. Grafting onto a normal seedling with normal leaves might allow them to survive and produce fruit.

January 25, 2016	#20
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Maybe they should go in bubbles. Worth

January 25, 2016	#23
clkingtx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Wichita Falls Texas Posts: 446	This sounds really neat! I will be following this thread.

January 25, 2016	#26
dipchip2000 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma Posts: 664	Robert just called my attention to this thread. I have never seen a white seedling of any variety. I just sowed around 600 Carbon Copy seeds yesterday and will watch them closely. It is a puzzle to me also and will enjoy seeing where if anywhere this leads. I am in agreement that it can not get required energy to grow naturally. Graft away, nothing to lose, kinda exciting waiting for the outcome. ron

January 25, 2016	#27
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,886	That'll be fun, Ron. Maybe you'll get some variegated CC's to play with. It would be interesting to know what percentage turn out to be albino's. I've never come across one either, but maybe I will when I germinate some CC F7 this year. Not to worry, as I'll grow some extra seeds because I wouldn't want to be without my Carbon Copy! Linda

January 25, 2016	#28
4season Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: albuquerque Posts: 308	If plants exude sugars and other phytochemicals from their roots to nourish beneficial bacteria and fungi, they ought to be able to absorb sugar for energy. As a side note, about 20 years ago I had one normal green tomato plant that had the top turn pure white. I don't remember type or if there was any fruit from the white section.

January 25, 2016	#29
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	The tomato plant still looks like it did in post #6. The cotyledon doesn't look like leaves yet. So I'm thinking it is too early to attempt to graft? I did read a lot about grafting and watched a couple of videos, but in all cases, the plants were bigger than the one that I have growing now.