EVALUATION OF TRI-HYBRID TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.) GENOTYPES IN NSUKKA

ABSTRACT

Field experiment was conducted at Department of Crop Science Teaching and Research Farm, University of Nigeria, Nsukka to evaluate selected Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) tri-hybrid genotypes obtained from the of Crop Science Research and Teaching Farm. The field experiment was set using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two replications. Twenty two (22) tomato genotypes of which twenty one (21) were tri hybrid and one (1) ISREALI variety were used for the experiment. Data were collected on growth and yield parameters including plant height, number of leaves, days to 50 percent flowering, days to fruit maturity, stem girth, number of truss/plant, number of flowers/ truss, number of fruits/ truss, number of fruits/ plant, number of branches, fruit yield(t/ha), average weight of fruits/ plant. The results revealed that P X W X TIMA4 was significantly (p≤0.05) higher in number of fruits per plant (83.0), fruit yield tons/ha (16.60), and lower in days to 50% flowering (33.5days) and days to fruit maturity (83days). The ISREALI genotype was significantly higher in the average fruit weight per plant in gram (31.02). The genotype P X W X TIMA8 was significantly higher in the plant height (172.7cm). The genotype W X G X TIMA35 was significantly (p≤0.05) higher in number of fruits per truss (8.0) and in the number of flowers per truss (9.75). Furthermore, the genotype W X G X TIMA15 had non-significantly (p>0.05) higher number of branches (14.5). The results obtained showed that tri hybrid genotypes P X W X TIMA4 and W X G X TIMA35 were the best as they gave significantly higher fruit yield of 16.6 and 13.56 tons/ha, respectively.

INTRODUCTION

Tomato belongs to the Solanaceae family, which includes more than 3000 species with origins in both the Old (eggplant in China and India) and New World (pepper/potato/tomato in Central and South America); (Knapp, 2002), and has its origin in the South American Andes. It is a high-valued vegetable crop that is widely consumed fresh or processed and grown in almost every country of the world (Naika et al., 2005). In Nigeria, tomato is regarded as the most important vegetable after onions and pepper (Fawusi, 1978). It is a relatively short duration crop that gives a high yield and it is economically attractive.

Tomato is beneficial to human health as it is rich in minerals, vitamins, essential amino acids, sugars and dietary fibers (Naika et al., 2005). As a palatable and succulent crop, tomato is used in vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes. In Nigeria, it is used in the preparation of pasta salads,  snacks,  sandwich  and  cocktails.  Rao  et  al.  (1998)  found  that  tomatoes  and  tomato products have numerous health benefits and also contribute to a well-balanced diet. Tomatoes also contain lycopene, a red pigment serving as a natural anti-oxidant (Shi and Manguer, 2000; Sies et al., 1992), calcium, water, and niacin, which are essential for metabolism (Olaniyi et al., 2010). It is also rich in potassium which is helpful in controlling the rate of heart beat, heart diseases and stroke (Enujeke, 2013).

Hybrids are plants that are a result of artificial cross-pollination while the tri hybrid crosses are crosses between two individuals that are heterozygous for three different traits. Hybrid and tri hybrid tomato varieties have many advantages compared to open pollinated varieties. They create variability which permits flexibility and survival of a population in the face of changing environmental circumstances and usually produce higher yields. They generally mature earlier and more uniformly. Many hybrids have better fruit quality and disease resistance.

There has been noted lack of improved, adaptable commercial varieties of tomato in the humid environment. This is due to the differences in crop reactions to environmental conditions. This results in lack of high yielding varieties, and high level of pest and disease infestation as well as poor fruit quality of available varieties in our humid environments.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the tomato variants selected from the tri hybrid crosses of twenty one (21) to identify high yielding and adaptable genotypes.

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