Morphological Characterization of Tomato Genotypes (Solanum lycopersicum L)

Abstract

Tomato belongs to the family Solanacae, grown worldwide for its edible fruits, ranging in different shapes and sizes, and colours from red to green and black among others. Tomato is grown mostly in the Northern part of Nigeria during dry seasons under irrigation. Tomato is one of the major components of food in Nigeria. The research aim at identifying the genetic diversity among tomato genotypes with view in finding the evolutionary relationship among the selected tomato genotypes. Tomato genotypes seeds which includes landraces and accessions were used for the study. The genetic diversity studies were done using International Plant and Genetic Resource Institute (IPGRI) the descriptors of tomato protocols and manuals. However, the fruit shelf life was also been evaluated in the study. Two growth patterns (determinate and indeterminate) were identified among the genotypes evaluated. Potato leaf type is the dominant leaf shape among the genotypes of study. Different fruit shapes such as oblong, pyriform, rounded were identified among others. Some of the landraces shows short shelf shelves. In conclusion, the research identified the variations and distinctiveness of tomato genotypes grown in Sokoto agro-climatic zone of Nigeria and identified some genotypes with long shelve life. This could be used as a tool in cultivating tomato with high resilience of storage.