An attempt to induce "egg transformation" in Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. using irradiated pollen.

Experiments were designed and carried out to investigate the possibility of inducing "egg transformation" in tomato, as described by Pandey in Nicotiana L. Pollinations were made, which included the following treatments: irradiated donor pollen, irradiated donor pollen mixed with normal self pollen, irradiated donor pollen followed by delayed self-pollination, and a simple pollen mixture of non-irradiated donor and self pollen. No transformants were found after screening 5,620 seedlings representing 22,300 potential transformation events. If egg transformation occurs, it would appear to be limited to species outside of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.