YIELD AND MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF HYBRID AND INBRED TOMATO VARIETIES IN WINTER AND SUMMER SEASONS

Abstract

Two consecutive pot culture experiments were conducted at the research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka to study the morpho-physiologycal and yield performance of two hybrid ( BARI Hybrid Tomato-4 and BARI Hybrid Tomato5) and three inbred (BARI Tomato-2, BARI Tomato-14 and BARI Tomato-15) tomato varieties during the winter and summer seasons of 2013-2014. Both the experiments were carried out using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. The results revealed that the best vegetative growth was found during the summer season but reproductive parameters showed best results during the winter season. In the first experiment during winter season, the maximum plant height at different days after transplanting was observed in BARI Hybrid Tomato-5. BARI Hybrid Tomato-5 accumulated maximum root dry mass (1.82 g plant-1) while accumulation of shoot dry mass (17.52 g plant-1) and total vegetative dry mass (19.10 g plant-1) was maximum in BARI Tomato-2. BARI Tomato-14 required minimum time (23.42 days) for first appearance of inflorescence. Maximum flower clusters per plant (9.58) and floral buds per cluster (7.00) were observed in BARI Toamto-14 and BARI Hybrid Tomato-5 respectively. BARI Tomato-2 produced maximum flowers (5.31) and fruits (4.81) per cluster whereas a maximum fruits per plant (41.33) was produced by BARI Hybrid Tomato-4. The average fruit weight (74.19 g fruit-1) was maximum in BARI Tomato-14 and the highest total soluble solid (5.42 %) was found in the fruits of BARI Hybrid Tomato-5. The tomato yield per hectare was maximum (58.19 t ha-1) in BARI Tomato-14, which was statistically similar with BARI Tomato2, and BARI Hybrid Tomato-5. In the second experiment during summer season, the results showed that the plant height at different days after transplanting, root dry mass (2.06 g plant-1), shoot dry mass (22.53 g plant-1) as well as total vegetative dry mass (24.53 g plant-1 ) were maximum in BARI Hybrid Tomato-5. BARI Tomato-14 required minimum time (22.66 days) for first appearance of inflorescence. BARI Hybrid Tomato-5 produced maximum flower clusters per plant (9.58) and floral buds per cluster (7.00) whereas the maximum flowers per cluster (4.71) was produced by BARI Hybrid Tomato-4. Inbred varieties completely failed to set fruit in summer season, on the other hand hybrid varieties were able to set fruit. However, a complete failure of fruit yield at final stage was observed due to premature fruit drop of BARI Hybrid Tomato-4 and BARI Hybrid Tomato-5.