ISSN : 1225-8504(Print)
ISSN : 2287-8165(Online)
ISSN : 2287-8165(Online)
Journal of the Korean Society of International Agriculture Vol.36 No.4 pp.379-386
DOI : https://doi.org/10.12719/KSIA.2024.36.4.379
DOI : https://doi.org/10.12719/KSIA.2024.36.4.379
Performance of Cherry Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) Genotypes for Yield and Fruit Quality in Ethiopia
Abstract
Cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L,. var. cerasiforme Mill.) is small fruits with a bright red color resembling a cherry and having an excellent taste, sweet and juicy ambience. So far, no cherry tomato variety was registered in Ethiopia. Consequently, six genotypes were imported from National Institute of Horticulture and Herbal Sciences (NIHHS), Rural Development Administration (RDA) Republic of Korea, and field experiment was conducted in RCBD with three replications at six Ethiopian testing sites, with irrigation, during off-seasons of 2021 and 2022 to identify high yielding, well adapted and good quality varieties. The overall analysis of variance across locations and years showed non-significant difference among the genotypes for marketable and total yields. But separate analysis for each site has revealed significant differences among genotypes at Melkassa, Koka, Adami- Tulu and Fogera, unlike that of Kulumsa and Woramit. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) among these genotypes for fruit numbers per plant, average fruit weight, fruits per cluster, plant height, skin thickness, juice volume and total soluble solid. Wonhong No.3 gave higher marketable (24.49 t/ha) and total (26.19 t/ha) yields, and generally Wonhong Nos.3 and 5 had higher yields and good qualities across these tested locations and years. Hence, Wonhong No.3 (designated as Jorgie-1) was registered for its higher yield, non-cracking, good TSS and color, while Wonhong No.5 (renamed as Jorgie-2) was preferred for its smaller fruit size, reasonable yield and quality (TSS, color, non-cracking). Hence, both varieties were officially registered in 2023 season for commercial production in different agro-ecologies of Ethiopia, and they are believed to add more economic and nutritional values for the tomato producers and the consumers. They can also support the intensification of tomato cultivation in peri-urban and urban agriculture, where demands and thus government focus are increasingly growing.