Patent ID: 7365247
Filing Date: 2008-04-29
Classification: A01H,C12N

Abstract:
1. A method for selecting a mutant miniature tomato plant having a desired trait, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a population of miniature tomato plants, wherein said miniature tomato plants have the following characteristics: (i) reduced size in comparison to a commercial tomato plant; (ii) maturation to produce viable seeds or tubers at a plant density of at least ten-fold higher than standard growth conditions used for a commercial tomato plant of the same species; and (iii) capable of being crossed with a commercial tomato plant of the same species; (b) generating mutant miniature tomato plants in said miniature tomato plant population by inducing mutagenesis of said miniature tomato plants via at least one of a T-DNA and a transposon sequence to produce a mutagenized miniature tomato plant population; and (c) selecting a mutant miniature tomato plant having said desired trait within said mutagenized miniature tomato plant population.