Amer Abdul Razzak
General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research-
Lattakia Research Center
Tishreen University, Faculty of Agriculture
2008
Abstract
The study was conducted at Lattakia Research Center for three growing seasons (2004-2005, 2005-2006, and 2006-2007) by using twelve local tomato genotypes ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) collected from several areas. Because of the self-fertility which had been done these genotypes, a genetic segregation occurred in offspring of some types and resulted new types.
The study followed-up the morphological and yield characteristics of local genotypes of tomato and genotypes which selected from their offspring. Thus, it could be considered a genetic base for breeding programs.
Morphological traits, flowers and fruits and theirs chemical contents were studied. Significant differences for the traits of plant, flowers and fruits were found among both local and selected types throughout the two seasons. Results showed that the fourth genotype had the highest value for main stem length (370.25 cm) and fruits had the highest content of dry matter, acidity and sugar at 6.81, 0.46 and 4.09 % respectively. The eleventh genotype recorded the highest productivity per plant 2839.4 g, whereas the highest fruit weight 120.97 g was recorded in the eighth genotype.
Among eighteen of selected lines, it was observed the superiority of the fourth line in main stem length 450.25 cm, and the eleventh line in the yield per plant 3548.13 g, whereas the eighteenth line was the best in terms of fruit weight 110.5 g.
Positive correlation was observed between yield and number of fruits per plant among local genotypes and selected lines (r= 0.41, r=0.7) respectively, and the same relationship was noticed between fruit weight and number of loculars per fruit (r= 0.4, r=0.53) respectively.
Selective differences between local genotypes and selected lines fluctuated according to trait. The highest difference ratio (119.4 %) was recorded in the yield of eighteenth line; the change of fruit weight was disparate for both value and trend, while the change of dray matter in fruits was negative for most genotypes because of the actual increase of yield and its negative relationship with fruit dray matter.