Evaluation of germination, growth and flowering characteristics of selected tomato genotypes in a high rainfall region

Abstract

This research was conducted to evaluate germination, seedling growth, vegetative and flowering characteristics of five tomato genotypes - NHTO 0201, NHTO 0294, B52, Thorgal F₁ hybrid and Cameroun. Seedlings from the nursery were transplanted into bags filled with 10 kg soil, replicated 6 times and laid out using the completely randomised design (CRD) in the field. Data collected from seedlings were percentage germination, days to first and last seedling emergence, height, number of leaves and seedling vigour index (SVI). At 50% flowering, plant height, number of leaves/plant, primary branches/plant, days to 50% flowering, flower clusters/plant and flowers/plant were gathered. Data were analysed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. Means were compared using the least significance difference (LSD) at p = 0.05. Germination percentage and seedling characteristics did not differ significantly amongst genotypes. Significant correlations were observed between germination and SVI (r = 0.939*) and between days to the first and last seedling emergence (r = 0.895*). There were significant differences in leaves/plant and primary branches/plant but not flowering characteristics. Plant height and days to 50% flowering correlated significantly (r = 0.889*). Plant height, primary branches/plant (r = 0.978**) and flower clusters/plant and flowers/plant (r = 0.975**) were highly and significantly correlated. Selection pressure could be directed to characteristics with positive correlations.