Articles
Agronomic performance of tomato accessions for their yield and fruit quality attributes in Mauritius
Article number
1422_16
Pages
121 – 130
Language
English
Abstract
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important economic crop cultivated in Mauritius.
Cultivation of imported hybrid cultivars became popular locally due to the higher yield obtained as compared to local open-pollinated ones (OP). Such reliance on hybrid seeds for local production threatens our food security.
The price of imported seeds has increased tremendously due to pandemic and geopolitical instability.
The objective of this study was to identify and promote high yielding OP cultivars with good fruit characteristics which will make growers to be sustainable in seed requirement.
In 2021 and 2022, seven tomato accessions introduced from the World Vegetable Centre, Taiwan, together with ‘Swaraksha’ (hybrid F1) as control, were evaluated in field experiments in two agro-climatic zones in a complete randomized block design with three replicates.
The accessions were assessed for yield and physico-chemical characteristics.
Significant differences were observed for most of the characters among the different accessions in both years.
Highest yield was recorded by ‘CLN 4018 B’ (21.20 to 43.20 t ha‑1) and ‘CLN 2498 D’ (37.6 to 34.0 t ha‑1) irrespective of seasons and agro-climatic zones.
Yield of the control ranged from 12.55 to 42.8 t ha‑1. Variation was noted in fruit size, shape, total soluble solids and acidity among the accessions.
This study identified three high yield tomato accessions with good fruit quality adapted to the local conditions. ‘CLN 2498D’ was highly appreciated by growers following field demonstration and on-farm trials.
Seeds of this line were distributed among growers to scale up production and meet seed requirement.
Cultivation of imported hybrid cultivars became popular locally due to the higher yield obtained as compared to local open-pollinated ones (OP). Such reliance on hybrid seeds for local production threatens our food security.
The price of imported seeds has increased tremendously due to pandemic and geopolitical instability.
The objective of this study was to identify and promote high yielding OP cultivars with good fruit characteristics which will make growers to be sustainable in seed requirement.
In 2021 and 2022, seven tomato accessions introduced from the World Vegetable Centre, Taiwan, together with ‘Swaraksha’ (hybrid F1) as control, were evaluated in field experiments in two agro-climatic zones in a complete randomized block design with three replicates.
The accessions were assessed for yield and physico-chemical characteristics.
Significant differences were observed for most of the characters among the different accessions in both years.
Highest yield was recorded by ‘CLN 4018 B’ (21.20 to 43.20 t ha‑1) and ‘CLN 2498 D’ (37.6 to 34.0 t ha‑1) irrespective of seasons and agro-climatic zones.
Yield of the control ranged from 12.55 to 42.8 t ha‑1. Variation was noted in fruit size, shape, total soluble solids and acidity among the accessions.
This study identified three high yield tomato accessions with good fruit quality adapted to the local conditions. ‘CLN 2498D’ was highly appreciated by growers following field demonstration and on-farm trials.
Seeds of this line were distributed among growers to scale up production and meet seed requirement.
Publication
Authors
B. Saraye, R.S. Munbodh, A. Purmessur-Mayeputh, R.D. Nowbuth
Keywords
Solanum lycopersicum, food security, open-pollinated cultivar, yield, seed
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