Application of seed esterase isoenzymes in testing hybridity of tomato

Expression of esterase isoenzymes in 1272 seeds was used to estimate hybridity of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Individual seeds (440) of the parental cultivars taken from different experimental stations in Bulgaria were also analysed. The banding patterns were obtained by means of vertical block electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels. It was established that quantitative variation of locus Est-1 can be applied to prove hybridity of F₁ tomato seeds. This marker is related to the genetic nature of tomatoes and is not the result of the environmental influence. The reason for this conclusion is the fact that the isoenzymes of the Est-1 locus are indicative for hybridity determination of all examined seeds taken from different regions in Bulgaria. Use of this locus is to be recommended for both its universality and the fact that the reagents for esterase isoenzymes staining are not expensive. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.