In tomato seed production
maximum attention is paid to achieving high levels of genetic purity, germination and
vigour. 
The procedure followed to ensure this is as
under :
- The male and female seedlings are raised
in plug trays. The male is sown 10 to 12 days ahead of the female. This is done so that
there is enough time for roughing all off types of male line before starting
Hybridization.
- In the female plants first one or two
clusters are removed to ensure good vegetative growth before Hybridization commences.
- Emasculation of flowers in the female line
is done about 48 hours before the stigma becomes receptive.
- All male flowers are harvested the
previous day in the evening and the pollen is extracted early in the morning. Only the
fresh pollen is used.
- After pollination two sepals are cut to
identify hybridized fruit at the time of harvesting.
- Before harvesting, thorough checking is
done of the female plants to remove all off types.
- All the seed after extraction is acid
treated to disinfect the seed and also improve physical quality.
- The seeds are dried first in shade and
then in partial sun and then in full sun so that drying is uniform.
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