Characterization of Some Selected Nigerian Indigenous Tomato Accessions (Morphology, Molecular and Yield)

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a morpho-molecular and yield-based screening system to identify the best tomato genotypes in Nigeria. Conducted at the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) in Abuja, the experiment used twelve
tomato accessions from the National Center for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB). Five seeds per accession were sown in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in rich loamy soil. Morphological and yield parameters were monitored, revealing significant differences (p<0.05) among the accessions at week 8. Accession NW1 demonstrated superior traits in plant height, number of branches, leaflets, flowers, and fruits per plant but had the lowest fruit weight due to smaller fruit size. Molecular analysis using RAPD-PCR with ten primers identified 28 polymorphic fragments, showing genetic variability among the accessions. Combining molecular and morphological traits proved reliable for selecting improved tomato genotypes but traits such as fruit weight, number of flowers, and number of fruits per plant were positively correlated with yield and can serve as selection indices for breeding programs. This research provides valuable insights for enhancing tomato breeding and yield in Nigeria.