Selection of Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>) Hybrids Resistant to Fol, TYLCV, and TSWV with Early Maturity and Good Fruit Quality

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is widely grown in the tropics, where its production is subjected to heavy disease losses. A goal of tomato breeders is genetic improvement of early maturity genotypes with higher fruit quality under challenging environmental conditions, such as the presence of multiple pathogens, is the goal of tomato breeders. In Mexico, tomato is one of the main exported vegetables, grown in most of the northwestern states of the country, with the state of Sinaloa as one of the largest producers. In this study, we evaluated fruit quality parameters in 16 tomato hybrids (14 hybrids under development in Sinaloa and 2 as commercial lines), which were previously analyzed with molecular markers to detect gene resistance. The hybrids were harvested at the “red ripe” stage at three different harvest dates. Total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity, pH, color, firmness, and the TSS/acidity ratio were evaluated. Of the 16 hybrids analyzed, 2 showed the presence of genes for resistance to TYLCV, 7 for resistance to TSWV and Fol race 3, 15 for resistance to Fol race 2, and all 16 for resistance to Fol race l. Results show that most of the tomato hybrids analyzed during the three harvest dates met market standards reported in the USDA’s fresh tomato import regulations and Mexico Supreme Quality 2005 (MCS Mexico Calidad Suprema for its acronym in Spanish). However, two of the advanced developmental hybrids better met the market requirements and are also maturing early.

Keywords

• tomato
• early maturity
• harvest quality