Fruit yield and quality variation among tomato genotypes (<i>Solanum lycoperscium</i> [Mill.]) grown in peat moss substrate

Abstract

In sub Saharan Africa, growing tomato (Solanum lycoperscium [Mill]) in peat moss under polyethylene house is not frequently encountered. The effects of microclimatic factors on fruit yield and quality traits, and the contribution of traits to marketable fruit yield were investigated during 2018 season and repeated in 2019 planting seasons. Two seedlings of NGB 00698, NGB 00713, NGB 00698 and UC-TOMATO-82-B (check) were maintained per polythene pot filled with 2.5 kg of peat moss substrate arranged in a completely randomized design in four replications. The genotype and year are fixed. Morphological, agronomic and fruit quality traits were measured. Data was analyzed using PROC GLM and PROC REG of SAS. Significant (P≤ 0.01) genotypic response was found for all traits. Days to fruit appearance, fruit/plant, fruit/cluster, fruit acidity and marketable fruit yield were unstable and responsive to microclimatic factors with low predictability due to cross over performance. Early maturing genotypes had medium sized fruits and high fruit mass. The cross over performance for marketable fruit mass, fruit acidity, fruits/cluster, culled fruits/plant and days to first fruit appearance limit the prospect of identifying promising tomato genotypes in the short run. NGB 00713 hold promise for marketable fruit mass. Promising accessions for culled fruits/plant and fruit mass are recommended for continuous evaluation, promotion and commercialization.