Evaluation of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Genotypes for Morphological, Qualitative and Biochemical Traits for Protected Cultivation

Abstract

Fourteen genotypes of tomato collected from different sources were evaluated inside naturally ventilated polyhouse at Polyhouse Complex, Department of Horticulture (Vegetable and floriculture), BAU, Sabour, Bhagalpur during 2018-2019. The experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications. Data from analysis of variance depicted that mean sum of squares of all genotypes were highly significant for all traits under study except titratable acidity and β-carotene which indicated the existence of ample genetic variability among the genotypes. Genotype NS 4266 had least days to first flowering, days fifty percent flowering, lowest number of locules, highest plant height at 60 DAT along with maximum β- carotene & lycopene content; TODINDVAR-8 had lowest number of nodes to first flower and maximum average fruit weight; Palam Tomato Hybrid-1 displayed maximum no. of flower per truss; Heemshikhar had lowest no. of days to first fruiting; TODINDVAR-5 had highest no. of fruit per truss; Arka Abha showed earliest days to first picking; San Marzano had maximum polar diameter and plant height at final stage of harvesting; TODINDVAR-6 show maximum equatorial diameter and lowest titratable acidity; Arka Samrat had maximum pericarp thickness; Hawaii 7998 was observed with maximum no. of fruit per plant; Arka Vikas had maximum TSS content. However, Pant Polyhouse Tomato-2 contained maximum ascorbic acid. Different types of fruit shapes viz. flat round, oval, round, heart shaped, cylindrical and fruit colour viz. red, pink, yellow-orange was exhibited by various genotypes. All the genotype displayed the absence of green shoulder on fruit except San Marzano. Three genotypes namely Palam Tomato Hybrid-1 (5.72 kg/plant), Heemshikhar (4.85 kg/plant) and NS 4266 (4.82 kg/plant) was identified for higher yield among all the genotypes.