Selection criteria in tomato lines with determinate growth habit

Abstract

Introduction. The selection of genotypes with a determined growth habit in tomato should contemplate adequate selection criteria to increase the efficiency of the plant breeding program. Objective. The objective of this research was to estimate selection criteria for “chonto” tomato lines with determined growth habit. Materials and methods. The research was developed in the Universidad Nacional de Colombia campus Palmira in 2016, using seven determinate habit growth lines (D) and a control with undetermined habit growth. The heritability in a broad sense (h2g), coefficient of environmental variation, coefficient of genetic variation, selection efficiency, and genetic gain was determined, in morphologic, phenological, quality fruit, fruit shape, and productions parameters using the RELM/BLUP process, from the SELEGEN software. Results. Three ranges of h2g were found, the first with values of h2g greater than 0.76, the second between 0.53 and 0.38, and the third with a value less than 0.38. The highest values of h2g were for final height plant with 0.92, height plant to harvest with 0.88, production per plant with 0.83, days to flowering with 0.83, fruit number with 0.82, and days to harvest with 0.82. For genetic gain it was found that the control presented the highest values within the main parameters for final height plant, plant height to harvest, internode length, days to harvest, crop duration, soluble solids content, number of fruits per plant, weight fruit, and plant production; however, in some parameters such as height and phenology for effects of selection by habit of determined growth lower values were better. Conclusion. Genetic parameters were evidenced that could be considered as selection criteria for “chonto” tomato lines with determined growth of habit.