GOBLET gene and dwarf (or microdwarf) tomatoes

bower · April 22, 2015

I have a couple of runts from two different batches of F2 seedlings (both Kimberley crosses), and both of them have strange cotyledons - smaller than normal and also lobed. I was curious about that feature so did a bit of a search, and turned up this paper about the GOBLET (GOB) gene in tomato which produces lobed cotyledons, dwarf plants and some other effects.

http://jxb.oxfordjournals.org/conten...xb.ert324.full

I wondered if this is a gene involved in some lines of microdwarf, which aren't rugose. Also wondering whether these plants will be dwarfs (rather than runts) and whether they'll produce fruit. I think I'm curious enough to keep them until I see what the flowers look like. I have a couple of normal dwarfs from a different F2 cross, and these plants are about the same size.

Below are some pictures of my plants' lobed cotyledons - not exactly like the ones shown in the figure,
http://jxb.oxfordjournals.org/conten...4/F4.large.jpg
but it could be a variant effect of the same mutation, perhaps? Has anyone else seen oddly shaped cotyledons in runt plants, or in some lines of microdwarf?

charline · April 22, 2015

I had a lobed /split cotyledon in a blue silvery fir tree seedling

Darren Abbey · April 22, 2015

The micro plants I've been working with seem to have the "dwarf" and "sun-dwarf" traits. In these plants, the cotyledens look entirely typical.

I'd say to go ahead and see how the plants do.

crmauch · May 29, 2015

Any new developments with the odd cotleydons?

bower · May 29, 2015

Yes... I set aside the three plants that had the strange cotyledons to see what came. One of them developed into a normal sized seedling - it was just a bit slower than the pack. A second one became tall but sparsely foliated and no signs of being fruitful. The third seedling appears to be a genuine dwarf. When it set first cluster of buds I potted it up, and now it is flowering.

I have two rugose dwarf selections from one of my F2's, both of which are huge by comparison to this little plant. It''s pretty cute.

About a foot tall.

Labradors2 · May 29, 2015

I had a lobed cotleydon on a Ditmarsher seedling.

Linda

April 22, 2015	#3
Darren Abbey Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 586	The micro plants I've been working with seem to have the "dwarf" and "sun-dwarf" traits. In these plants, the cotyledens look entirely typical. I'd say to go ahead and see how the plants do. __________________ http://the-biologist-is-in.blogspot.com

April 22, 2015	#2
charline Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: France Posts: 688	I had a lobed /split cotyledon in a blue silvery fir tree seedling

May 29, 2015	#4
crmauch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Honey Brook, PA Zone 6b Posts: 399	Any new developments with the odd cotleydons?

May 29, 2015	#5
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,793	Yes... I set aside the three plants that had the strange cotyledons to see what came. One of them developed into a normal sized seedling - it was just a bit slower than the pack. A second one became tall but sparsely foliated and no signs of being fruitful. The third seedling appears to be a genuine dwarf. When it set first cluster of buds I potted it up, and now it is flowering. I have two rugose dwarf selections from one of my F2's, both of which are huge by comparison to this little plant. It''s pretty cute. About a foot tall.

May 29, 2015	#6
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,887	I had a lobed cotleydon on a Ditmarsher seedling. Linda