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Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences - Vol. 11, No. 3
Publication Date: June 25, 2023
DOI:10.14738/dafs.113.14729.
Quamruzzaman, A. K. M., Akter, L., & Islam, F. (2023). Phenotypic Characterization of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)
Germplasm to Develop the High Yielding Breeding Resource in Bangladesh. Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 11(3). 32-
40.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Phenotypic Characterization of Tomato (Lycopersicon
esculentum) Germplasm to Develop the High Yielding Breeding
Resource in Bangladesh
A. K. M. Quamruzzaman
Olericulture Division, Horticulture Research Center,
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh
L. Akter
Olericulture Division, Horticulture Research Center,
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh
F. Islam
Training and communication,
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh
ABSTRACT
A study was conducted with 28 tomato germplasm/variety at the Olericulture
Division of Horticulture Research Centre, BARI, during the winter season of 2021-
22 to evaluate the yield and yield related components. There was significant
variability observed among the 28 tomato germplasm varieties. Significant
variation was observed in the number of fruits per plant and single fruit weight,
while the range was 15-52 and 23-97g, respectively. In this study, eleven
germplasms produced more than 70.00 t/ha, with SLA34 producing the highest
yield (95.24 t/ha), followed by SLA15-7 (91.24 t/ha), SLA15-1B (86.63 t/ha), SLA36
(85.47t/ha), BARI Tomato-15 (81.35 t/ha), SLA15-6 (79.43t/ha), SLA15-1 (77.22
t/ha). The range of yield was obtained from 26.57-95.24 t/ha. The range of TSS was
2.9% (SLA20) to 6.5% (SLA34), while higher TSS contained germplasm were viz.,
SLA34 (6.5%), SLA15-5, SLA15-6 (5.2%), SLA15, SLA32 (5.1%). Significant variation
was observed for TYLCV infection and leaf-sucking pest infestation, which varied
from 0–10% and 0–20%, respectively. Considering yield and yield contributing
parameters, the germplasm viz., SLA34, SLA15-7, SLA15-1B, SLA36, SLA15-6, SLA30,
SLA15-1, SLA15-4, SLA27, SLA15, SLA32, and SLA11 may be investigated further for
developing better tomato varieties.
Keyword: Tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, breeding resource, phenotypic
characterization.
INTRODUCTION
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a vital vegetable in Bangladesh and around the world. It is
the second most important world consumable vegetable after potatoes, ranks first among the
processing crops (FAO, 2008) and belongs to the Solanaceae family (Saravanan et al., 2003). It
is rich in a plethora of natural antioxidants and bioactive compounds. The regular ingestion of
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Quamruzzaman, A. K. M., Akter, L., & Islam, F. (2023). Phenotypic Characterization of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Germplasm to Develop the
High Yielding Breeding Resource in Bangladesh. Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 11(3). 32-40.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/dafs.113.14729
an adequate amount of fresh tomatoes or processed tomato products has been inversely
correlated with the development of widespread human diseases (Agarwal and Rao, 1998;
Erdman et al., 2009; Prakash and Kumar, 2014) and with an increase in plasma lipid
peroxidation levels (Giovannucci, 1999; Balestrieri et al., 2004). This protective effect has been
attributed primarily to the carotenoid constituents of the fruits, particularly lycopene and -
carotene, which act as antioxidants in detoxifying free radicals (Erdman et al., 2009; Mascio et
al., 1989; Stahl and Sies, 1996; Clinton, 1998; Kotková et al., 2011). In addition to the large
production values, the tomato is an important source of antioxidant intake. The essential
phytonutrients found in the tomato fruit are lycopene, β-carotene, α-tocopherol, polyphenols,
and ascorbic acid, and antioxidant activity depends on cultivar, environmental parameters, and
method of production and processing. Ripe tomatoes have important quality characteristics,
viz., uniform size, red color, and good aroma and texture.
However, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) has released 21 open- pollinated (OP) and 11 hybrid tomato varieties so far. Several leading seed companies are also
supplying more tomato varieties and seeds, which are being imported from different countries.
Though BARI released varieties are higher yielders, some varieties are prone to several pests
and diseases. Besides this, growers’ demand is for good quality, high-yielding varieties. So,
growers are interested in getting good quality pest and disease resistant varieties with a good
shelf life. In this context, BARI must develop quality tomato varieties with good keeping quality,
higher yields, and resistance to pests and diseases. As a result, 27 tomato germplasm lines were
collected and evaluated in Bangladesh in order to develop good quality, high yielding, pest and
disease tolerant tomato varieties with good shelf life and sweetness.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experimental Site
The experiment was conducted at the Olericulture Division of Horticulture Research Centre,
BARI during the winter season of 2021-22 with twenty-seven tomato germplasm. The
experimental field was at 23.9920o N Latitude and 90.4125o E Longitudes having an elevation
of 8.2 m above sea level. The experimental site is situated in the sub-tropical climatic zone and
is characterized by scanty rainfall during the experimental period. The average minimum and
maximum temperatures were 57.0-80.0 0F and 75.3-89.40F and relative humidity was 3.0 to
65.0% (Fig 1).
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Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences (DAFS) Vol 11, Issue 3, June- 2023
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Fig 1. Average minimum, maximum temperature (0F) and RH (%) of the experimental area
Treatments and Plant Materials
The seeds of 28 tomato germplasm varieties were sown on the polypot on 05 October, 2021.
Thirty-day days old seedlings were transplanted in the main field on 04 November, 2021. The
experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block design with three replications. The
unit plot size was 5.0 x 1.0m, maintaining 60 x 50 cm spacing and a 0.5m drain.
Land Preparation and Fertilization
The experimental area was enriched with organic manure, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium,
Sulphur, Zinc and Boron @ 3,000, 250, 90, 125, 20, 3 and 2 kg/ha, correspondingly. One third
of the organic manure, 50% of Phosphorus and full of Sulphur, Zinc and Boron were
incorporated for the period of last land-dwelling preparation. Rest of organic fertilizer and
Phosphorus and 1/3 of Potassium were applied as basal in pit. Entire quantity of Nitrogen and
rest of Potassium were applied in three equal portions beginning 20 days after transplanting.
The remaining three portions were fertilized at 20, 40 and 60 days after transplanting. The
intercultural operations (weeding, irrigation, etc.) were done as and when necessary.
Data Collection and Statistical Analysis
Data on days to first flowing, days to 50% flowing, days to first harvest, days to fruit maturity,
no. of clusters per plant, no. of flowers per cluster, no. of fruits/cluster, no. of fruits/ plant, single
fruit wt. (g), fruit yield/plant (kg), fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm), pericarp thickness
(cm), TSS (%), no. of locules, plant height at last harvest (cm), TYLCV (%), and leaf sucking pest
(%) were recorded from three randomly selected plants per plot. The information on different
characters was statistically analyzed. Plot means for quantitative characters were used for the
statistical analysis.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Significant differences were observed among the 28 tomato germplasm varieties of tomato. A
wide range was observed in days to first flowing, days to 50% flowing, days to first harvest, and
days to fruit maturity, which were 59-70 days, 63-76 days, 98-113 days, and 35-39 days,
65.0
31.5
6.0 3.0 3.5 8.3
16.0
80.0 77.0 68.0 60.5 57.0 62.0
70.3
89.0 88.5 84.0 78.0 75.3 82.0
89.4
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
Sep-21 Oct-21 Nov-21 Dec-21 Jan-22 Feb-22 Mar-22
Month
Minimum, maximum temperatures (0F) and RH (%)
RH (%) Min. Temperature (°F) Max. Temperature (°F)