Selection of F2RC1 saladette-type dwarf tomato plant populations for fruit quality and whitefly resistance

Abstract

This study aimed to select promising F2RC1 populations of saladette-type dwarf tomato plants for the development of breeding lines based on agronomic characteristics, fruit quality, and whitefly resistance. The experimental design was randomized blocks containing 13 treatments (10 F2RC1 populations of dwarf tomato plants, both parents, and a commercial hybrid) with four replicates. The evaluations were performed included weight, length, diameter, shape, pulp thickness, number of locules, soluble solids, β-carotene, and lycopene concentration of the fruit; plant internode length; acylsugars concentration; and number of whitefly eggs, nymphs, and adults on the leaflets. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, selection indices, and multivariate analysis. The first backcross increased the agronomic characteristics of the populations in relation to the donor parent, especially for fruit weight (169.1%), fruit length (26.1%), and fruit diameter (16.6%). The UFU SDi 7, UFU SDi 9, and UFU-SDi 17 populations were selected using two selection indices and were therefore considered promising.

Artificial neural networks and genetic dissimilarity among saladette type dwarf tomato plant populations

“…It has been reported that tomato plant characteristics should be prioritized to obtain future cultivars, especially with regard to the various biotic ( Ferrero et al, 2020 , Zanin et al, 2021 ) and abiotic stressors ( Oliveira et al, 2021 , Wen et al, 2021 ), as well as the nutritional quality of the fruit ( Londoño-Giraldo et al, 2020 , Gomes et al, 2021 , Oliveira et al, 2022 ) for a healthy diet ( Asensio et al, 2019 ). A major obstacles to this is the narrow genetic base of the tomato germplasm ( Hassan et al, 2021 ).…”

“…In order to conduct the introgression of genes of interest for different types of biotic stress and fruit nutritional quality, and promote higher productivity, research with dwarf tomato plants has been intensified ( Maciel et al, 2015 , Finzi et al, 2017 , Finzi et al, 2020 , Cavasin et al, 2021 , Gomes et al, 2021 , Oliveira et al, 2022 ). The use of dwarf plants has provided multiple advantages, and obtaining saladette/roma dwarf tomato populations is a promising technology for the future development of higher yielding hybrids, similar to that observed with cherry/grape tomatoes ( Finzi et al, 2017 ).…”