AGRONOMIC DIVERSITY OF "CHERRY" TYPE TOMATO POPULATIONS S. lycopersicum L. AND S. pimpinellifolium L. WITH POTENTIAL IN PLANT BREEDING

The genetic variability of the modern cultivars of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is reduced, then breeders need to explore native germplasm of tomato and wild relatives to locate genes with agronomic and commercial value. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agricultural diversity of four native populations of S. lycopersicum with pre-breeding and nine wild accessions of S. pimpinellifolium, along with a commercial "cherry" type as check, to identify the outstanding materials. Thirteen agronomic traits were evaluated during two cycles of cultivation in a greenhouse using a complete randomized block design, with three replications and experimental units of ten pots with a plant per pot. There was significance for all the variables among populations. Native population CP14063 was outstanding, since it matched statistically to the hybrid control on average fruit weight and yield exceeded by 12 %. The population CP14065 excelled in soluble solids content (TSS) and taste (IS) with 9.1 and 16.6. Wild populations LA1576, LA1584 and LA0373 excelled too, since they obtained TSS values of 9.6, 9.0 and 8.3, respectively. Therefore, they are valuable as source of alleles for the genetic improvement of the tomato quality. Cluster analysis formed four groups, which allowed separating the native populations from the wild ones and the hybrid by their agronomic characteristics. The characterization of native and wild populations of tomatoes allowed to identify the outstanding ones with potential to be incorporated into tomato breeding programs.