Abstract
To breed varieties with the parthenocarpic trait for laborsaving of tomato cultivation, we investigated an efficient selection method for the trait. In spring and autumn when self-fertilization occurs, working hours of stigma excision were shorter than those of emasculation. The decisions of the parthenocarpic trait in each treatment generally corresponded. These findings show that stigma excision is effective in actual breeding. In winter when self-fertilization is difficult, it is important to control night temperature to the lowest of 8°C or higher and select individuals with seedless fruits enlarging normally from ones flowering after the start of night temperature control. Parthenocarpy can be selected efficiently by stigma excision in spring and autumn, or by the method using low temperature in winter.
