Variability Studies on Qualitative and Quantitative Traits in Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato)

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most economically important vegetable crops worldwide, with a wide array of genetic diversity in morphological traits. Understanding this diversity is crucial for breeding programs aimed at developing improved varieties with desirable traits. The present investigation was undertaken to assess genetic variability using morphological markers among 40 tomato accessions, comprising 30 accessions from the National Center for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, five from local markets in Ibadan, three varieties from Benue and Oyo States, and two varieties obtained from seed companies. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. Significant variations (p < 0.05) were recorded for several traits, including primary leaf length and width, number of leaves, plant height days to first fruiting, number of inflorescences, and the number of leaves under the first inflorescence. In the principal component analysis, the first three components collectively explained 74.80% of the variation observed among the 40 accessions. Cluster analysis grouped the accessions into two major clusters: cluster I, which contained two sub-clusters comprising 10 accessions, and cluster II, which contained four sub-clusters comprising 30 accessions. This study identified four accessions, namely NGB/00717, NGB/00714, NGB/00696, and NGB/00735b, that exhibited superiority in important vegetative and yield traits. A sufficient level of diversity for future tomato breeding programs was identified.