Did you know...

DOES THE TOMATO PLANT HAVE A SEX? AND WHAT ABOUT ITS FRUIT?
All plants have a sex, but depending on the type of plant, it will reproduce through asexual or sexual means. The tomato plant reproduces sexually. Its reproductive organs are the flowers, which are hermaphrodite. This means that the male sexual structures (stamens) and the female sexual structures (pistil) are present in the same flower. In most cases, fruit is produced as a result of self-pollination, although cross-pollination can also occur. The tomato is a fruit and therefore has no sex.

IS A TOMATO STILL ALIVE AFTER HARVESTING?
The tomato plant is a living organism, and so are its organs, leaves, roots, stems and fruits. When a tomato is harvested and picked from the plant, its cells are still metabolically active, which means that the
tomato is still alive. This is confirmed by the ripening process that occurs in the tomato once it has been detached from the plant, as well as the seeds’ ability to produce a new plant. These processes could not take place if the cells of the produce were dead. As a climacteric fruit, the tomato continues ripening for a few days until it reaches full maturity and then begins to age.

DO ALL TOMATOES HAVE SEEDS?
For many years, research has been concentrated on the cultivation of seedless tomatoes. In these varieties, through a process known as parthenocarpy, the ovary of the flower is transformed into fruit without the need for fertilisation. This means that the sterile plant is not dependent on environmental conditions, has a longer shelf life and enables the production of processed tomatoes. This type of tomato is typically quite a bit smaller (approximately 40%) and weighs much less (around 80%) than a “traditional” seeded tomato.

More information can be found in the book Tomato Sapiens.