TRIALS ON PRODUCING TOMATO HYBRIDS SUITABLE FOR GREENHOUSE CONDITIONS IN EGYPT

Abstract

This investigation was conducted at Kaha Research Farm, Qalyubia Governorate, affiliated to the Horticultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt, during three seasons )from 2018 to 2021(. The study aimed to evaluate the performance of twenty exotic indeterminate genotypes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to determine its suitability of cultivation under greenhouse conditions. The study material was obtained from two globally known gene banks namely, the Centre for Genetic Resources of the Netherlands and U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (GRIN-Global) of United States Department of Agriculture. One locally registered hybrid, Asya was used as the check. The experimental layout was complete randomized block design with three replications. The investigation consisted of two parts; the first part was to evaluate the performance of 15 exotic indeterminate genotypes of tomato. While, the second part to hybridization between the best five genotypes and obtain all possible hybrids. Data were collected for vegetative, flowering and fruit characteristics as well as the number of fruits and both early and total yields per plant. Highly significant differences were observed among the exotic genotypes and the check for all studied characteristics.