MXPA00003740A - Seedless tomatoes and method for making the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention involves tomatoes which are substantially seedless. The tomatoes of the present invention are made by crossing a tomato plant containing at least one parthenocarpic gene as the male parent with a male sterile tomato plant containing at least one parthenocarpic gene as the female parent. The tomatoes resulting from this cross are substantially seedless.

Description

TOMATOES WITHOUT SEED AND METHODS TO PRODUCE THEMSELVES TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to seedless tomatoes and to a method for producing these tomatoes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many crop plants produce fruits within a specific temperature range and under certain environmental conditions. Beyond this range of temperatures and environmental conditions, tomatoes produce fruit in a narrow temperature range of 15 ° to 21 ° C (night) and 30 ° to 35 ° C (day). A. N. Lukyanenko, "Parthenocarpy in Tomato" / Monographs on Theoretical and Applied Genetics 14, pages 167-177 (1991). Parthenocarpy is the production of fruit without fertilization. Certain environmental conditions favor parthenocarpy, such as high or low day or night temperatures, low light intensity, and high humidity. Parthenocarpy can be artificially induced or it can occur naturally. In induced parthenocarpy, different growth regulators can be used to facilitate the development of the fruit. For example, auxins are commonly applied to facilitate fruit development in tomatoes (Lycopersicon esc? Lent? M) that grow during winter-spring on the Mediterranean coast. The natural or genetic parthenocarp can be forced or facultative. The obligatory parthenocarpy results from genetic sterility, arises without any external stimulation and requires a vegetative method of propagation. The obligatory parthenocarpy is found in fruits such as bananas and pineapples. A. N. Lukyancriko, "Parthenocarpy in Tomato". Monographs on Theoretical and Applied Genetics 14, pages 167-177 (1991). The facultative parthenocarpy is found in tomato and other species in which the processes of pollination and fertilization depend on narrow environmental limits. Id. In the facultative parthenocarpy, fruits with seed or without seed are produced in response to environmental stimulation. Id. For example, the line of parthenocarpic tomato "Severianin" of the Gribovskja Experimental Vegetable Station near Moscow, Russia, was found to have the remarkable ability to produce fruit without seed or seed of similar weight depending on environmental conditions. Splitttoesser, Walter E., "Temperature influences Parthenocarpic Fruit Production in Tomato ", Proc. Plant Growth Regal, Soc. Am (1988). It is also known that the natural parthenocarpic lines have a greater quantity of substances that favor the growth in the ovary and as a result, the failure of the pollination or the lack of seed formation will not prevent the development of the fruit. We have studied multiple cultures that present parthenocarpy all over the world, thus, different sources of parthenocarpy are known. Parthenocarpy is known to be genetically controlled by one or more recessive genes.

Multiple recessive genes that control parthenocarpy are known. These genes are pat, pat-2, pat-3, pat-4 and pat-5. A short anther allele has also been found (sha) that produces parthenocarpic fruits. A suppressor allele of seed development (sds) has also been found that produces normal fruits without seeds or only with a small amount of very small seeds. One of the problems with parthenocarpic fruits is that their quality tends to be questionable. For example, the parthenocarpic fruit tends to be smaller than the normal fruit. Also, the acidity tends to be lower in the parthenocarpic fruit, which is an adverse factor in the flavor. In addition, the parthenocarpic fruit, especially tomatoes, often have some malformations such as bloated appearance when produced under low temperature conditions. The cultivated tomato, Lycopersicon esculent? Mr is one of the most important vegetable crops in the United States and throughout the world, with some millions of tons produced per year in the United States alone. The commercial importance of the crop has required a constant effort to improve the cultivated varieties. Some parthenocarpic seedless tomatoes are known. For example, 30% of tomatoes in the tomato line "Farthest North" have no seed. (Bagett, J. R., et al., Hortisci. 13 (5): 598 (October 1978); Bagget, JR et al., Hortisci (13 (5): 599 (October 1978) Approximately 50-70% of the tomatoes in the Oregon 11 and Gold Nugget tomato lines have no seed (Baggett, JR et al., Hortisciscience , Alexandria American Society for Horticultural Science 17 (6), 984-985 (Dec. 1982) Baggett, JR, et al., Hortiscience, Alexandria, Va .: American Society for Horticultural Science, 20 (5), 957-958 ( October 1985)) In addition, one of the problems with these seedless tomatoes is that no one can determine if the tomato is seedless without cutting the tomato first, so previous methods for obtaining seedless tomatoes have produced a certain percentage of fruit that does not contain seeds This is not a beneficial approach from a practical or commercial point of view to obtain fruits without seeds.There is currently no commercially available tomato with virtually no seed. in particular, such tomatoes of good spice quality for people with severe dietary restrictions who can not eat food products that contain seeds. For example, people who recover from surgery to repair a portion of their gastrointestinal tract usually can not eat foods that contain seeds. The problem is that these seeds can get stuck in the sutures in the repaired area of the gastrointestinal tract and by this means damage the healing process. If the wall of the digestive system does not heal properly, another rupture may occur. In addition, virtually seedless tomatoes would be beneficial in the preparation of food and in the process products industries. For example, completely seedless tomatoes would make the preparation of certain products such as tomato sauce and tomato paste more efficient and less expensive because the seeds do not need to be removed before the process. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a practically seedless parthenocarpic tomato that exhibits good quality. A second objective of the present invention is to provide a method for producing seedless tomatoes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes tomatoes. { Lycopersicon esculentum) that are practically seedless. The tomatoes of the present invention are approximately 100% seedless.

The seedless tomatoes of the present invention are pced by crossing a tomato plant (Lycopersicon esculentum) containing at least one partenocarpic gene such as the male parent with a sterile tomato plant (Lycopersicon esculentum) containing at least one partenocarpic gene such as the female parent. The male and female parental lines can contain any parthenocarpic gene such as pat, pat-2, pat-3, pat-4 and pat-5, sha, and sds. The parthenocarpic gene (s) in the male and female parent lines must be identical to ensure the pction of seedless tomatoes of the present invention. The seedless tomatoes of the present invention retain the size of the fruit of the parental lines, and thus a means is provided for obtaining seedless tomatoes of commercially acceptable size. The seedless tomatoes of the present invention have good flavor (sugar and acid balance) and do not present malformations as swelling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a black and white photograph of cut halves of two different tomatoes. Figure 1A is a tomato half of a tomato with seed, normal. The Figure IB is a tomato half of the seedless tomato of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes seedless tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) and a method for pcing seedless tomatoes. As used herein, the term "tomato without seed" refers to a tomato that does not contain any mature, fertilized seed. Although the tomatoes of the present invention do not contain any mature fertilized seed, the tomatoes may contain unfertilized ovaries, which are small and white in color. These unfertilized ovaries are not considered real seeds. The seedless tomatoes of the present invention are practically seedless. As used herein, the term "virtually seedless" means that the tomato is at least 90% seedless. Preferably, the seedless tomatoes of the present invention are about 95% to about 99% seedless, more preferably, the tomatoes of the present invention are about 100% seedless. The seedless tomatoes of the present invention are prepared by crossing a tomato plant (Lycopersicon esculentum) containing at least one parthenocarpic gene such as the male parent with a male sterile tomato plant.

(Lycopersicon esculentum) containing at least one partenocarpic gene as the female parent. The male and female plants crossed to pce the seedless tomatoes of the present invention should each be homozygous for the parthenocarpic gene (s) and contain identical parthenocarpic genes. The male and female parent lines used to pce the seedless tomatoes of the present invention must contain at least one partenocarpic gene. The parental lines can contain any parthenocarpic gene such as pat, pat-2, pat-3, pat-4, pat-5, sha, sds, etc. To ensure the pction of virtually seedless tomatoes, the male and female parental lines used in the hybridization should preferably contain the identical parthenocarpic genes. For example, if the male parent line contains the pat gene, the female parent line must also contain the pat gene. Multiple lines of tomato containing parthenocarpic genes are available to the public for use as the male parent line in the method of this invention. Examples of tomato lines containing parthenocarpic genes that can be used in this invention are listed in the following table.

Country Control Line Reference Severianin USSR pat-2 Philouze et al, Genotype- and-enviromet-in-breeding-greenhouse-tomatoes, 2.54-64 (1978) is incorporated herein by reference. Sub Arctic Plenty Canada Pat-5 Nuez et al, J. Plant Breeding 96 (3) 200-206 (April 1986), is incorporated herein by reference. Oregon Cherry U.S.A No se Baggett et al., Hort knows Science 13 (5): 598 (1978), is incorporated herein by reference.

Oregon T5-4 U.S.A No se Baggett et al., Hort knows Science 13 (5): 598 (1978), is incorporated herein by reference.

Gold Nuggett U.S.A No se Baggett et al., Hort knows Science 50 (5): 957-958 (1985), is incorporated herein by reference.

Santiam U.S.A No se Baggett et al., Hort knows Science 21 (5): 1245-1247 (1986), is incorporated herein by reference.

Oregon-11 U.S.A No se Baggett et al. , Hort knows Science 17 (6): 984-985 (1986), is incorporated herein by reference.

Siletz U.S.A No se Baggett et al. , Hort knows Science 17 (6): 984-985 (1982), is incorporated herein by reference.

Oregon Spring U.S.A No se Baggett et al. , Hort knows Science 21 (5): 1245-1247 (1986), is incorporated herein by reference.

Oregon Star U.S.A Pat-2 Baggett et al. , Hort Science 30 (3): 649 (1995), is incorporated herein by reference.

Oregon Pride U.S.A Pat-2 Baggett et al. , Hort Science 30 (3): 649 (1995), is incorporated herein by reference.

The Oregon-11, Gold Nuggett, Oregon Spring, Oregon Star, Oregon Pride and Siletz lines are available in the Territorial Seed Co trade. , P. O Box 157, Cottage Grove, OR 97424. The Gold Nuggett and Oregon Spring lines are also available from Johnny's Selected Seeds, Foss Hill Road, Albion, ME 04910-9731 and Nichol's Garden Nursery, 1190 North Pacific Highway, Albany, Oregon 97321.

The Santiam and Oregon Star lines are also available in the trade and Nichol's Garden Nursery in Albania, Oregon. In addition, parthenocarpic genes from homozygous tomato lines can be transferred to tomato lines having desirable commercial characteristics by crossing a first generation hybrid with one of their parents. The line of tomato ho ocigoto containing the parthenocarpic genes is used as the donor father and the line of tomatoes having desirable commercial characteristics is used as the recurrent parent. After the initial crossing of the recurrent father with the donor father, the resulting offspring Fi is self-pollinated. The F progenies are then grown and only those progenies having seedless fruits combined with the most desirable horticultural traits are selected. These selections are then reproduced further to fix desirable horticultural traits while retaining the parthenocarpic gene or another retro-crossing with the recurrent parent is used until satisfactory F2 segregated recover. The tomato line can now be used as the male parent line in the cross of the present invention. The female parental line that is used to produce seedless tomatoes of the present invention contains at least one partenocarpic gene and also exhibits male sterility. The parental line can be cytoplasmic or genetically sterile male. As used herein, a plant is "sterile male" if it does not produce non-viable pollen or pollen. Self-fertilization is eliminated in male sterile plants. The male sterile plants allow a breeder to produce hybrid seeds more economically and controlling cross-fertilization in the flower of a plant. Cross fertilization can be controlled by preventing the female parent from self-fertilizing. Once converted into sterile male, the plant can then be hybridized with a gene donor plant having the desired characteristics. In this invention, the male sterile female tomato plant is hybridized with a male fertile male tomato plant that contains at least one pair of identical parthenocarpic genes. One way to effect male sterility is through the use of male cytoplasmic sterility. It is currently believed that the genetic factors that control male cytoplasmic sterility (CMS) are found in the cytoplasm, particularly in the mitochondrial DNA series. Two common cytoplasmic male sterilities in the plant are the male Ogura sterile cytoplasm of Raphanus sativus and the sterile male cytoplasm polyp of Brassicas napus. Other cytoplasmic male sterilities and methods for obtaining this sterility are well known in the art and are available for use in this invention. For example, the application of European Patent 3363 819 Al discloses a method for producing male sterile tomato plants by fusing tomato protoplasts containing inactivated cytoplasmic elements with Solanum protoplasts containing inactivated nuclear elements to obtain fusion products that can be regenerated in plants of sterile tomato male. In tomatoes, male cytoplasmic sterility can be transmitted by crossing. The female parent (egg) contributes to the cytoplasm, therefore, crossing CMS females CMS progeny is produced. Nuclear genes, however, are heterozygous. Therefore, from six to eight generations of backcrossing is required to produce CMS line of reproduction that is homozygous for desirable nuclear characters from the horticultural point of view. Otherwise, sterile cytoplasmic male tomato lines can be produced by protoplast fusion. For example, a protoplast of a plant having desirable traits for trade can be fused with a protoplast of a CMS line to produce male sterile plants. In general, protoplasts for fusion can be obtained by conventional enzymatic techniques. The enzymatic isolation of the protoplasts can be done using a two-step (or sequential) or one-step method. In the two-step method, the plant tissue is first treated with a mazenzyme or pectinase that separates the cells by degrading the middle lamellae. The released cells are then treated with cellulase, which releases the protoplasts. In general, cells are exposed to different enzymes for shorter periods that are used in the one-step method. In the one-step method, the tissue is subjected to a mixture of enzymes, including macerozyme and cellulase. Because the protoplasts are negatively charged, they will not fuse spontaneously. Therefore, the fusion of the protoplasts must be induced. The fusion of protoplasts can be chemically induced by treating the protoplasts with high concentrations of calcium at a high pH, or by using polyethylene glycol. In addition, it is also possible to use electrical methods to induce protoplast fusion, such as the electric field impulse technique described in Vienken et al., Physiol. Plant 53: 64 (1981), which is incorporated herein by reference. Before fusion, the nuclear material of one of the protoplasts, such as a protoplast of the CMS line, is removed or inactivated to ensure that the protoplast only donates the cytoplasm. The inactivation of the nuclear material can be carried out by irradiation using gamma, UV or X rays. In some cases, the genetic material in the cytoplasm is inactivated before fusion so that the protoplast only donates the nuclear material. Inactivation of the cytoplasmic material can be carried out chemically by exposing the protoplasts to a compound, such as iodoacetic acid or Rhodamine 6-G. In general, these compounds block replication or break mitochondrial DNA. Once the protoplasts are fused, they are grown in a suitable culture medium containing a well-balanced supply of nutrients for protoplast growth and callus formation. The medium contains micro and macro-elements, vitamins, amino acids and small amounts of carbohydrates, for example, some sugars such as glucose. The culture medium also contains plant hormones (auxins and cytokines) that can regulate cell division and regeneration. Cytoplasmically male sterile plants are then regenerated. Any male sterile tomato plant can be used in this invention. For example, sterile cytoplasically tomato tomato plants produced according to the method described in European Patent 363 819 A1, incorporated herein by reference, can be used in this invention.

The male sterile tomato plants used as the female parent line must also contain a parthenocarpic gene that is identical to the partenocarpic gene contained in the male parent line. The female parental line can be prepared by backcrossing the homozygotes of the tomato lines for at least one of the parthenocarpic genes with the male sterile tomato plants. This backcrossing strategy differs from endogamous development in that it includes direct backcrossing of the parthenocarpic endogamy for the CMS female since self-pollination is not possible, the parthenocarpic line acceptable from the horticultural point of view acts as the conservative of the CMS female line . The backcrossing continues until the line of CMS tomatoes is homozygous for the parthenocarpic gene. The homozygosity is obtained once 100% of the population of the plant develops parthenocarpic fruits. The seedless tomatoes of the present invention are obtained by hybridization of the male parent line with the female parent line. The resulting progeny is about 90% seedless, preferably about 95 to about 99% seedless, and most preferably 100% seedless. However, it should be noted that if a pollinator such as the bee pollinates the female parent line with pollen from a fertile line that does not contain at least one identical parthenocarpic gene as in the female parent line, then the progeny will not be approximately 90% without seed.

The present invention also relates to a method for producing a hybrid Lycopersicon esculentum, the method consists in the steps of crossing a Lycopersicon esculentum plant containing at least one partenocarpic gene such as the male parent with a cytoplasmically male sterile Lycopersicon esculentum plant containing at least one Parthenocarpic gene as the female father produces a Lycopersicon esculentum. The hybrid plant provides a fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum) that is sterile male. To develop the optimum fruit, hybrid plants must be grown under a photoperiod of thirteen (13) hours or more. In general, when cytoplasmic male sterility is employed in plants, a restorer gene must be transferred from the male pollinator to ensure adequate fertility in the Fi progeny. More specifically, the function of the restorer gene is to restore fertility in the hybrid, thereby allowing the development of the fruit. By using a parthenocarpic gene in the male parent, sterile cytoplasmic male Lycopersicon esculentum hybrids can be made that do not require a male father's restoring gene. A restorative gene is not required because the parthenocarpic gene extends the ovary, producing the fruit even though the fruit does not contain seeds.

Some varieties of seedless tomatoes of the present invention have locules that do not increase in size during tomato development at the same speed as conventional tomatoes. Because the locules in these tomatoes remain smaller, there is a greater surface area of fused septal carpels compared to traditional tomatoes. Figure 1 shows a black and white photograph of halves of two different tomatoes. Figure 1A shows one half of a commercial tomato, with seed, normal. Figure Ib shows a tomato half of a tomato without seed produced by the method of the present invention. As can be seen in these photographs, half of tomato in Figure IB has more pulp than half of tomato in Figure 1A. Therefore, the seedless tomatoes of the present invention usually contain more pulp than conventional tomatoes. In addition, the seedless tomatoes of the present invention have a good balance of sugar and acid which provides the tomato with a good flavor. Likewise, the seedless tomatoes of the present invention have a higher sugar content than most of conventional tomatoes. The high sugar concentrations of the present invention are considered related to the fact that there are no seeds acting as a "dump" which normally assimilates the free sugars present in the gel. The term "landfill" is used in connection with plants to refer to a part of a plant that preferably receives more elements of photosynthesis (sucrose) than other parts of the plant. The seeds constitute the "dominant dump" 7 in the plants because it represents the next generation or progeny of the plant.The seed bearing plants contain a genetic constitution that codes for the preferential translocation of sucrose to develop the seeds, particularly under stress. With the parthenocarpic tomatoes of the present invention it appears that small, unfertilized ovules can not absorb the translocated sugars in the ovary, thus giving rise to free sugars for the enjoyment of the consumer. The seedless tomatoes of the present invention do not present any malformation, such as swelling, and have an acceptable size for trade. Finally, the seedless tomatoes of the present invention are sliced better than traditional tomatoes because of the smaller locular gel areas. By way of example not limitation, examples of the present invention will now be provided.

Example 1 Description of a method for preparing seedless tomatoes 96 HF 241. This example describes the development of seedless tomato 96 HF 241 according to the method of the present invention. The tomato 96 HF 241 was developed as follows. A sterile cytoplasmic male tomato plant (CMS) named "CMS VFN8" was crossed as the female parent with a tomato plant named "Det. Parth 1" using traditional cross-hybridization techniques. CMS VFN8 is a patented cytoplasmic male sterile tomato plant, obtained from Tokita Seed Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. The seeds of the hybrid father VFN8, a Petoseed inbred line with resistance to race 1 Verticillium dahliae to race 1 of Fusari um oxysporum and to the nematode of root knots Meloidogyné incognita, were used as a nuclear donor father in a fusion experiment of the protoplast where Solanum's mitochondria acaule sterile cytoplasmic male was replaced by the mitochondria of Lycopersicon esculentm, "VFN8". The type of plant of the VFN8 is a vigorous determinant and the size of the fruit is extra-large (200-250 grams), with good flavor. The Det. Parth 1 is a determinant parthenocarpic tomato plant that is a property of the inbred line of Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Inc., assignee of the present invention. Det. Parth 1 contains the pat-2 partenocarpic gene. Det. Parth 1 is a shrub tomato, defined with large extra-large fruit (200-250 grams). The fruit has green ridges and has excellent flavor due to the broad acidity and high sugar content. The seed resulting from the crossing was collected and planted. The resulting plants were then backcrossed using CMS VFN8 as the female parent. The seed resulting from this backcross was collected and planted. The resulting plants were then backcrossed a second time with CMS VFN8 as the female parent. Three additional backcrosses were performed using the plants resulting from the previous backcross and CMS VFN8 as the female parent. After a total of five backcrosses, the resulting plants named "CMS VFN8 / Det.Parth 1 *, were homozygous for the pat-2 gene, CMS plants VFN 8 / Det.Parth 1 * were used as the female parent in a crossing to develop seedless tomato 96 FH 241. Seeds of plants CMS VFN8 / Det.Parth l * 4 have been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Maryland 208361 on October 13 of 1997 and is assigned with the deposit number ATCC 209361. This deposit was made in compliance with the requirements of the Budapest Treaty that the duration of the deposit must be thirty (30) years from the date of deposit or for five (5) years after the last request for deposit to the depositary or during the time in which the rights of the United States Patent that is made of this application, whichever is longer, may be required The seeds of the CMS plants VFN 8 / Det Parth 1 * vol They will see to deposit if they become unavailable in the depository. A variety of open-pollinated tomato, termed "Dellcious", commercially available from Seminis Vegetable Seeds, the assignee of the present invention, was crossed as the female parent with a patented tomato plant obtained from the Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon Called, named "33" using traditional cross-hybridization techniques. Plant 33 contains the pat-2 parthenocarpic gene. The seed resulting from the crossing was collected and planted. The resulting plants were backcrossed using Delicious as the female parent. The resulting plants named "F < 5 (Delicious '/ 33 *), are homozygous for the pat-2 gene. Fg plants (? Delicious' / 33 *) are used as the male parent at a crossroads to develop tomatoes without seed 96 FH 241. The seeds of CF (xDelicious' / 33 *) have been deposited with the American Type culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20852 on October 13, 1997 and is assigned with the deposit number ATCC 209360. This deposit was made in compliance with the requirements of the Budapest treaty that the duration of the deposit must be for thirty (30 ) years from the date of deposit or for five (5) years after the last request of the deposit with the depositary or for as long as the rights of the US Patent that makes this application may be binding, whichever is longer. The seeds of the FQ plants (Delicious' / 33 *) will be re-deposited if they are not avble in the warehouse. The plant CMS VFN8 / Det. Parth l * 4 was crossed as the female father with Fg (Delicious' / 33 *) as the male father using traditional cross-hybridization techniques. The resulting seed was collected and then planted. The resulting tomato, 96 FH 241, was 100% seedless.

Example 2 Indices of sugar content and sugar acid of Shady Lady and 96 FH 241 were determined. Shady Lady is a commercial variety with a very compact certain vine and generally large fruit size (180-220 g).

Plant 96 FH 241 is a seedless hybrid tomato produced by the method of the present invention. Samples of each of these tomatoes were individually homogenized in a normal food mixer to a smooth consistency. The tomato serum from each mash sample was obtained by centrifugation at 4 ° C in a Beckman GS-6R centrifuge at 1000 x g for 15 minutes. The sugar content of the serum was determined using a refractometer model RFM 91 (Bellingham &Stanley). The refractometer was calibrated with water and glucose solution 10 ° C Brix. The sugar content is expressed in Brix degrees (% sugar (w / w)). The sugar content for the two tomatoes are shown in the following table. The titratable acidity (A) was measured using a Mettler D67 autotitator using a pH 8.2 endpoint and a D.1000 N sodium hydroxide titrant (VWR). The titratable acidity is expressed in millimoles H / 100 grams of serum. The sugar: acid ratio (A / A) is the molar ratio of the sugar to the titratable H + content using the following formula: A / A = (° Brix / 180.16) / (A / 1000). The sugar: acid ratio for the two tomatoes is shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1 The results in the above table demonstrate that the sugar content of a seedless tomato produced by the method of the present invention is higher than a commercial, standard tomato variety. The sugar: acid ratio of the tomatoes of the present invention are also higher than that of normal tomatoes. Although the aforementioned invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the invention, limited only by the scope of the appended claims .

Claims (18)

1. A Lycopersicon esculentum is practically seedless.

2. The Lycopersicon esculentum of claim 1 which is approximately 95% seedless.

3. The Lycopersicon esculentum of claim 1 which is approximately 99% seedless.

4. The Lycopersicon esculentum of claim 1 which is approximately 100% seedless.

5. A method for producing a Lycopersicon esculentum that is practically seedless, the method comprises the steps of: crossing a Lycopersicon esculentum plant containing at least one partenocarpic gene such as the male parent with a male sterile Lycopersicon esculentum plant containing at least one partenocarpic gene as the female father to produce a Lycopersicon esculentum that is substantially seedless. The method of claim 5, wherein the parthenocarpic gene is selected from the group consisting of: pat, pat-1, pat-2, pat-3, pat-4, pat-5, sha and sds. The method of claim 6, wherein the parthenocarpic gene in the male parent and the partenocarpic gene in the female parent are identical. The method of claim 5, wherein the female parent is male sterile. The method of claim 8, wherein the female parent is sterile cytoplasmic male. The method of claim 8, wherein the female parent is genetically male sterile. The method of claim 5, wherein the Lycopersicon esculentum produced is approximately 95% seedless. The method of claim 5, wherein the Lycopersicon esculentum produced is approximately 99% seedless. The method of claim 5, wherein the Lycopersicon esculentum produced is approximately 100% seedless. 14. A Lycopersicon esculentum plant produced by the method of claim 5 which is practically seedless. 15. A method for producing a hybrid Lycopersicon esculentum, the method comprising the steps of: crossing a Lycopersicon esculentum plant containing at least one parthenocarpic gene such as the male parent with a cytoplasmically male Sterile Lycopersicon esculentum plant containing at least one partenocarpic gene as the parent female to produce a Lycopersicon esculentum hybrid. The method of claim 15, wherein the hybrid Lycopersicon esculentum is sterile cytoplasmically male. The method of claim 15, wherein the parthenocarpic gene is selected from the group consisting of: pat, pat-1, pat-2, pat-3, pat-4, pat-5, sha and sds. The method of claim 15, wherein the parthenocarpic gene in the male parent and the partenocarpic gene in the female parent are identical.