Growth and yield stability of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes in late and early planting seasons in a high rainfall and humid rainforest zone

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in the late and early seasons of 2021 and 2022, respectively in the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. Four tomato genotypes NHTO 0201, B52, NHTO 0294 and Thorgal F₁ hybrid were raised for six weeks and transplanted into plastic bags filled with 10 kg of soil and laid out in a CRD in the field with each treatment replicated six times. Data were analysed using ANOVA at p=0.05 in a CRD factorial arrangement with planting season as Factor A and genotype as Factor B. Plant height, number of leaves/plant, number of branches/plant, number of days to 50% flowering, days from flowering to fruiting and number of fruits/ plant were significantly higher in the early season than in the late season. Tomato genotypes showed significant differences in number of leaves/plant, number of branches/plant and number of flowers/plant. Planting season by genotype interaction was significant for Number of leaves/plant and number of fruits/ plant. In the late season, B52 had the highest yield stability of 2.857, whereas in the early season, NHTO 0294 had the highest yield stability of 2.121. Averaging for both seasons, B52 had the highest yield stability of 2.107. For stable yield in both seasons, the B52 genotype is recommended, being the one with the highest yield, most stable and well adapted. It could be used as a breeding material for improving tomato production in the high rainfall region.