Evaluation of Yield and Fruit Quality of Thirteen Selected Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) Cultivars in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Assessing the morphology, fruit yield, proximate composition and phytochemical properties of some grown tomato cultivars from southwest Nigeria is needed to identify quality and promote performance for tomato industry. Thirteen tomato cultivars that are prominently grown by farmers were purposively collected from farmer’s field across the region and evaluated for fruit yield and nutritional quality. Fruit yield and quality were evaluated on field and laboratory of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria in 2012 and 2013 early and late cropping seasons. Seedlings of the cultivars were raised and transplanted at 4 weeks to a plot of 3´3.6 m per cultivar at the spacing of 0.6 by 0.5 m between and within rows, respectively. The arrangement was a completely randomized block with three replications. Data were collected on morphological parameters, phenology and yield performance; while laboratory analyses for fruit quality assessment were also carried out and data on proximate and phytochemicals properties were collected. The results were analyzed subject to analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine seasonal and cultivars response while significant means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of probability. The result showed highly significant varietal variations which were also influenced by seasons also late season significantly favoured fresh yield. The fresh fruit yield per hectare per plant was highest in the descending order of Roma VF>NHLe-110>NHLe-3 (430.83, 361.50 and 345.00 g), respectively. There were significant varietal differences in the lycopene content and phytochemical properties which affected the nutritional quality of the cultivars.

Keywords: Tomato, yield, fruit quality, cultivars

Cite this Article

Adetoro OA, Amujoyegbe BJ. Evaluation of Yield and Fruit Quality of Thirteen Selected Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) Cultivars in Southwest Nigeria. Research & Reviews: Journal of agriculture and Technology. 2016; 5(3): 12–22p.