NEW VARIETY OF TOMATO

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28890, 9 May 1959, Page 11

NEW VARIETY OF TOMATO

First Seed Made Available

Seed of a new glasshouse tomato variety, V-548, which in stringent tests has shown impressive resistance to leaf mould, has been made available this year through the Horticultural Seedsmen’s Association from seed 'grown by the Crop Research Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, states the Department of Agriculture.

The first release was small, between 5 and 101 b of seed, and was available in time for autumn sowing. Future seed will be increased from a nucleus to be made available to the association for increase under the supervision of the Horticulture Division of the department. V-548, which originated at the Vineland Experiment Station, Ontario, Canada, gives yields comparable to those of the disease-free Potentate variety, and there are indications that V-548 can be slightly earlier in maturity. It has consistently shown a significantly lower percentage of blotchy ripening than has Potentate. It is a vigorous grower and is easy to handle, with the imitation that there is often 1 ouble branching. It appears to Le slightly more resistant to •cold Ehan Potentate.

As with Potentate, fruit size id shape of V-548 may not be leal under all conditions.