MORPHOLOGICAL AND AGRONOMIC CHARACTERIZATION OF TOMATO GERMPLASM NATIVE TO SOUTHERN MEXICO

Abstract

To establish a breeding program in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) it is necessary to have access to germplasm that contains genes of commercial interest and nutritional value; previously, the characteristics and attributes of each population should be known, which is achieved through characterization. Based on the above-mentioned, the objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological and agronomic diversity of 20 tomato accessions native to Southern Mexico and to identify those that show promise for conservation and use in genetic improvement. The populations were established under a completely  randomized experimental design with three replications. Eighteen characters of plant, flower, fruit and phenology were recorded. The information obtained was subjected to analyses of variance, principal component and cluster. A proportion of 82.3 % of the total morpho-agronomic variation was explained by the first three principal components. Characters with the highest descriptive value of variability were floral structures, fruit size and weight, yield per plant, node length, plant height to the first cluster and earliness. The cluster and principal component analyses allowed the identification of five groups. Six outstanding populations with the highest averages in flower structure, fruit length, fruit weight and fruit yield per plant were identified.