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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #223411
Title: Fla. 8153 hybrid tomato; Fla. 8059 and Fla. 7907 breeding lines

Author
item SCOTT, J - UNIV OF FL; GCREC
item Baldwin, Elizabeth - Liz
item KLEE, H - University Of Florida
item BRECHT, J - University Of Florida
item OLSON, S - University Of Florida
item SIMS, C - University Of Florida

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/12/2008
Publication Date: 12/1/2008
Citation: Scott, J.W., Baldwin, E.A., Klee, H.A., Brecht, J.K., Olson, S.M., Bartz, J.A., Sims, C.A. 2008. Fla. 8153 hybrid tomato; Fla. 8059 and Fla. 7907 breeding lines. HortScience. 43(7):2228-2230.

Interpretive Summary: Tomato flavor quality has long been a complaint of consumers. This paper announces the release of a Florida tomato 'Tasti-Lee' that was selected, not only for horticultural characteristics and disease resistance, but also for flavor quality and high lycopene. The red plant pigment, lycopene, has been reported to have anti-cancer properties and to be an important antioxidant in fruits and vegetables, such as tomato. Thus this new tomato variety has a nice appearance with deep red flesh, health benefits and good flavor.

Technical Abstract: Fla. 8153 is a fresh market tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) hybrid that is being released for the premium tomato market. It has high lycopene content and an attractive, deep red interior color due to the crimson (ogc) gene (Thompson et al, 1964). Flavor is superior to most commercially available tomato cultivars based on the results of seven experienced sensory panels, a consumer panel, and numerous samplings from field trials. Environmental conditions have a large impact on tomato flavor (Scott, 2001) and the strength of this hybrid is its ability to produce fruit with good flavor under a wide range of growing conditions. This feature, along with reliable yields of firm, marketable fruit, should allow for branding of vine ripe harvested fruit with consistent quality that will attract repeat purchasing in the supermarket. Fla. 8153 should also be popular in upscale restaurants. The parents, Fla. 8059 and Fla. 7907, are both crimson types that should be useful for tomato breeders interested in developing crimson and more flavorful cultivars.