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The aim of this study was to evaluate phenotypic traits and genetic diversity of the 13 tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) varieties and 6 hybrids developed at the Institute of Horticulture Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LRCAF IH). For the molecular characterisation, seven previously published microsatellite markers (SSR) were used. A24 and 26 alleles were detected in tomato varieties and hybrids, respectively. Based on the polymorphism information content (PIC) value, the most informative SSR primers for varieties were TMS52, TGS0007, LEMDDNa and Tom236-237, and the most informative SSR primers for hybrids were SSR248 and TMS52. In UPGMA cluster analysis, tomato varieties are grouped in some cases due to genetic relationships, as the same cluster cultivars 'Viltis' (the parent of cv. 'Laukiai') and 'Aušriai' (the progeny of cv. 'Jurgiai') are present. The grouping of all hybrids in the dendrogram is related to the parental forms, and it shows the usefulness of molecular markers for tomato breeding, as they can be used to trace the origin of hybrids and, eventually, varieties accurately. The knowledge about the genetic background of Lithuanian tomato cultivars will help plan targeted crosses in tomato breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigations of genetic resources in Lithuania started in 1924. Collections including more than 110 samples of different vegetable species have been accumulated and continue to expand. The breeding program is focused on productivity, quality traits and biochemical composition, and tolerance of unfavorable environmental factors in changing climates. Currently, over 95 cultivars and hybrids of vegetables have been released, about 40 of which are included in the EU Common catalogue of varieties of vegetable species. From 2012 to 2021, twelve cultivars were developed at the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, seven of which are fruit vegetables, four are root crops, and two are in the onion group. The breeding direction was to increase the sustainable production of vegetables and improve the quality of the products by using national and adapted genetic resources as valuable parental forms. For 10 years, vegetable plant hybrids and cultivars were developed to meet commercial cultivars' market requirements. The tomato cultivars 'Ainiai' H, 'Adas' H, 'Auksiai' H, 'Alvita' and cucumber cultivar 'Roliai' are distinguished by a good biochemical composition and taste, while the sweet pepper cultivar 'Gabija' has high productivity and fruit quality. The carrot hybrids 'Ieva', 'Rokita', 'Jola', garlic cultivar 'Dangiai', and onion cultivar 'Joriai' are distinguished by their productivity and good storage ability. The Jerusalem artichoke cultivar 'Sauliai' has tubers with white skin and the colour of the flowers is yellow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research objective was determination of ripening attributes of intact tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. 'Rutuliai' using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and reference analysis. Tomatoes were picked at six different ripening stages in order to evaluate the correlation between data obtained by near infrared spectra and physicalchemical analyses and how the quality parameters change during ripening. Primarily, spectroscopic measurements were followed by chemical analyses. NIR spectroscopy measurements and reference analyses showed that tomato fruit had lost skin and flesh firmness during the ripening processes and there were no big differences between the methods used for the determination of dry matter and soluble solids (°Brix) and the obtained results varied slightly. The obtained results of dry matter, soluble solids content (°Brix) and fruit skin and flesh firmness were presented as simple linear regression between NIR spectroscopy and reference analyses. A high correlation between NIR spectroscopy and reference analyses of dry matter was established and this correlation, expressed by regression coefficient, reached 0.9089. Regression coefficient between NIR spectroscopy and reference analyses of soluble solids was 0.815. Meanwhile, the highest correlation was detected for tomato fruit skin and flesh firmness and regression coefficient, respectively, reached 0.9119 and 0.9624. Hence the near infrared calibration has the potential to estimate the physical-chemical properties of tomato fruit according to their infrared spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the various types of stress, microwaves and temperature can induce major impacts on plant growth. There is information describing the thermal impact of microwaves on living organisms, but it is necessary to segregate the warming effect and direct impact of microwaves irradiation on plants. It was detected that High Power Microwaves (HPM) (9.3 GHz) and elevated temperature exposure upon tomato seeds and sprouts in primary ontogenetic stages showed a slightly incentive effect on plant-growing indicators such as dry mass, fresh mass, plants height, and assimilation area. Such a positive effect on plant growing parameters could be related to saccharides distribution by microwaves in seeds or plants and nutrients mobilization. Moreover, tomato plants (+R) and seeds (R) irradiation significantly reduced the content of non-structural carbohydrates (raphinose, glucose, fructose, and sucrose). Obtained results confirm that a common plant acclimatization response to various environmental elements is the concentration of secondary metabolites and antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six Lithuanian selection lines (137, 998/1000, 194/463, 21/1154, 1428, 1429) of edible tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were investigated in 2006-2007. Fruit quality and physiological parameters were evaluated: the content of lycopene and β-carotene and colour indexes (L*, a*, b* and hue angle h0) at four different stages of fruit ripening (stage I - green, stage II - beginning of ripening, III - not fully ripened, IV - fully ripened), the average fruit number on plant and the average fruit weight. The colour index a* showed the most obvious change, there was a sharp increase between stage I and other ripening levels with a* changing from negative (green color) to positive (red color) values. This could be related with the start of lycopene and β-carotene synthesis. When these carotenoids started to be synthesized, the L* value went down, indicating the darkening of tomato red colour, but in the selection line 1428 fruit colour from stage III to stage IV became lighter. The colour index b* values reached their peak at stage II when tomatoes started to get the red colour. In all the fruit ripening process, the hue angle had a tendency to decline, particularly the h0 value decreased between ripening stages I and II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]