Evaluation of Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill.) Varieties for Growth and Seed Quality under Jimma Condition, South Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Field and laboratory experiments were conducted at Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (JUCAVM) to evaluate selected Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) varieties for their growth and seed quality under irrigated condition. The field experiment was set using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), while the lab experiment was set using Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Nine Tomato varieties: Five determinate types (Bishola, Chali, Cochoro, Fetan and Melkasalsa) and four semi-determinate types (Metadel, Miya, Melkashola and Arp tomato d₂₎ and one local variety (Roma VF) were used for the experiment. Data were collected on growth and seed quality parameters including plant height, flower initiation, Days to 50 percent flowering, moisture content, germination percentage, field emergence, seedling dry weight, and root length. The results revealed that Variety had significantly (p≤0.05) affected growth and quality parameters. Significantly (p≤0.05) the shortest days to flower initiation and days to 50% flowering and the highest plant height were recorded from variety Arp tomato d₂ while the maximum germination percentage, field emergence, seedling dry weight and root length were obtained from tomato variety Cochoro. Significantly (p≤0.01) the minimum moisture content was recorded from Metadel and Arp tomato d₂. The tomato variety Cochoro was found to be high quality seed yielder as compared to the other varieties and hence it is suggested that tomato producers in Jimma area can use Cochoro variety for good quality seed production.