Growth, Yield and Correlation of Characters in Tomato Accessions (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Grown Under Two Soil Matric Potentials

Abstract

The study aimed to compare the growth and yield of tomato accessions under two soil matric potentials, determine the tomato accession/s that best perform under two matric potential based on yield and resistance to water deficit, determine the interaction effect of two soil matric potentials and tomato accession, correlate agronomic and yield characters of tomato accessions grown under two soil matric potentials. Two experiments were conducted involving table and cherry type’s tomato accessions. These accessions were grown in two soil matric potentials (SMP) at 20-30 cb and 50-60 cb under greenhouse condition. SMP of 20-30 cb indicates normal condition while SMP of 50-60 cb indicates moderate drought stress condition. SMP was measured using a Jet-fill tensiometer with units in centibars (cb). Results showed that plant height of table type tomato accessions was significantly reduced when subjected to 50-60 cb SMP. Earlier flowering, narrower stems, shorter internodes, lesser number of flower cluster per plant, lesser flower per cluster, lower percent fruit set, smaller leaves, and narrower fruits were observed when plants were subjected to 50-60 cb SMP. Other parameters such as number of fruits per plant, marketable yield per plant, total yield, average weight per fruit and number of seeds per plant was significantly lower when subjected to 50-60 cb SMP. Yield parameters such as marketable yield per plant, total yield, average weight per fruit and number of seeds per plant were significantly lower when subjected to 50-60 cb. Accession TM10490 had larger leaves, higher marketable yield and higher total yield per plant in the two soil matric potentials. Fruit width increased in all accessions at 50-60 cb SMP. The number of seeds per fruit in CLN2246S1 increased when subjected to 50-60 cb. Among the table type tomato accessions, TM10488 and CLN2246S2 had higher harvest index when subjected to 50-60 cb SMP. Accessions CLN2256 S3 can withstand higher SMP due to less yield reduction. Significant interaction was observed between soil matric potentials and tomato accessions on leaf area, fruit width, and marketable yield per plant, total yield, and number of seeds per fruit, harvest index and weight of 1000 seeds of table tomato accessions. For the correlation of characters in table tomato accessions, plant height, leaf area, internode length, and number of days to maturity significantly correlated with yield. In experiment two involving cherry type tomato accessions, plants grown at 50-60 cb SMP set fruits earlier. Drought score, leaf area, total soluble solids, fruit length, number of flower cluster per plant, number of flower per cluster, average weight per fruit and number of seeds per fruit were significantly lower when subjected to 50-60 cb. Higher non-marketable yield per plant was also noted in 50-60 cb SMP. Native variety was the best among the cherry type tomato accessions having the tallest plants, earliest to mature, highest number of flower cluster per plant, highest number of nodes, lowest drought score, highest number of fruits per plant, highest harvest index and lowest yield reduction under high SMP. Significant interaction between SMP and tomato accessions was noted on number of flower cluster per plant, number of flower per cluster, leaf area, fruit width, marketable yield, total yield, harvest index, fruit weight, seeds per fruit, and weight of 1000 seeds. Leaf area, internode length, number of nodes and number of days to maturity significantly had positive correlation with yield at 20-30 cb SMP while harvest index positively correlated with yield at 50-60 cb SMP. Growing the different tomato accessions at 20-30 cb is recommended for better growth and high marketable yield. Table type accession CLN 2246S3 and cherry type accession Native are recommended for planting under greenhouse condition at 20-60 cb SMP. Tomato accessions should not be grown at 50-60 cb or drought stress. For both table and cherry type tomatoes, plant height, days to maturity, leaf area and length of internodes can be used as selection indices under 20-30 cb or normal condition. Harvest index on cherry type tomatoes can be used as selection index under 50-60 cb or drought stress condition.