Evaluation of Tomato Genotypes Growth, Yield, and Shelf Life Enhancement in Nigeria

Nine tomato genotypes (‘NACGRAB-۱’, ‘NACGRAB-۲’, ‘NACGRAB-۳’, ‘NACGRAB-۴’, ‘NACGRAB-۵’, ‘NACGRAB-۶’, ‘NACGRAB-۷’, ‘NACGRAB-۸’and ‘NACGRAB-۹’) from the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan, Nigeria; with four commercial varieties (‘Petomech’, ‘Uc ۸۲B’, ‘Yolince’ and ‘Derica’) and two landraces (‘Ekwunato’ and ‘Tomato Mmiri’) were evaluated for their agronomic performance in a derived savannah region. Morphological and floral data were collected on them. At maturity, forty tomato fruits, each from five selected genotypes, were immersed in ۰.۱, ۰.۲, and ۰.۳ g L-۱ AgNO۳ varying concentrations of silver/neem (Azadirachta indica) solutions and a control to study the storability of the fruits. During storage, number of days to ۱۰, ۵۰, and ۱۰۰% fruit rot incidences were monitored on the treated fruits. ‘NACGRAB-۷' took the longest number of days to ۱۰, ۵۰, and ۱۰۰% fruit rot and was significantly different from the other genotypes. The lowest number of days to fruit rot was obtained from 'NACGRAB-۶'. Solution-B containing (۸ g L-۱ neem extract plus ۰.۲ g L-۱ AgNo۳) had the highest number of days to ۱۰ and ۵۰% fruit rot. The fruits that were not treated rotted faster than the treated fruits.

Keywords:

Azadirachta indica , Fruit rot , Fruit storability , Nanotechnology , Silver neem solution.