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Post by paquebot on Jan 20, 2018 1:24:56 GMT -5
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Post by billw on Jan 20, 2018 1:42:23 GMT -5
Available from the USDA as PI 303809, but I have to admit, I like this story a lot better than "so he ordered it from the USDA."  |
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Post by philagardener on Jan 20, 2018 6:49:22 GMT -5
Everyone in WI must be dreaming of vine-ripened tomatoes just about now.
Bet those papers go flying off the shelves! Nice recognition - Grow On!
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Post by billw on Jan 20, 2018 13:23:28 GMT -5
The difference is that, while Wisconsin 55 has been sitting in the USDA's freezer since 1965, this strain has actually been grown out repeatedly, likely becoming at least a bit better adapted to local conditions. It would be really interesting to compare the two genetically to see what has changed over time.
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Post by paquebot on Jan 20, 2018 13:45:55 GMT -5
USDA also has a nasty habit of crossed seeds. When you get a variety from them and plant 6 seeds and get 3 different seedling types, there's a problem. They have JTD and it is a mixed mess. Only Campbell's had the true one and they gave some to Rutgers several years ago to try to restore the original cross with Marglobe. Since the original Rutgers line was not maintained, nobody is certain what it is supposed to be. Thus the recreated one is Rutgers 250.
I suspect that I should get USDA's Wisconsin 55 and see if what they have is correct. I was already growing it in 1965 and do know that it has changed a little since. The reason why it was no longer available in 2003 was because what had been sold in a few previous years was not correct. It was either mixed or crossed. 2004 saw it back again but from SSE stock.
Martin
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Post by walt on Jan 20, 2018 14:22:51 GMT -5
I remember Dr. Charles Rick telling a story about a tomato breeder in Chili or Peru contacting him hoping to find tomatoes adapted to a certain valley. Dr. Rick told him, just go to the valley and collect a bunch from the local people, compare them, and select some that are good for your use and well adapted.
The guy said the valley had no tomatoes.
Dr. Rick flew down to see for himself. The valley had no plants except cotton, due to an ill advised government program which wasn't working out.
So Dr. Rick went back to the seeds he had collected in that valley and sent them a sample. They did well. In the short term anyway. They might not have done well as a monocrop but that would be a different story with the same ening.
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Post by paquebot on Jan 20, 2018 17:47:53 GMT -5
Another case wasn't mentioned in the article since very few people would have remembered it. One of the last tomatoes known to have been released by the University of Wisconsin was Wisconsin Chief. It was developed for commercial growing and released in 1957. Hybrids quickly forced it into extinction in this country. Even the USDA does not have it. The only known source was a Dutch seed bank. It's back home and a number of SSE members now have it. In its case, both parents are still available--Long Red and Victor. With Wisconsin 55, one grandparent is apparently gone--Del Monte.
Martin
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