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The greatest diversity of tomato is found in wild tomato species that show variability in fruit quality characteristics such as fl avor, aroma, color and texture. Twenty-seven introductions of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Linnaeus) from UNAPAL's germplasm collection were characterized at Montelindo farm owned by Universidad de Caldas, located in the village municipality of Santágueda, Palestina, Caldas, with an 22.8 °C average temperature, 1.010 m height, 2.200 mm annual precipitation, 76% relative humidity, and volcanic ash and sandy loam soils. Morphological characterization of the introductions was carried out based on tomato descriptors from International Bioversity (formerly IPGRI). An experimental design of randomized complete blocks with 27 treatments, three blocks and seven plants/block as an experimental unit, sown at 1.5 m x 0.5 m (13,333 plants /ha) was used. Four of the nine qualitative and four of the six quantitative variables evaluated showed significant differences. In exterior color of ripe fruit and hypocotyl color, intermediate intensity at 65,38 and 60,85% of the introductions was present, respectively. Introduction 157, stood out with the highest values in the length and width of fruit with 5,03 and 7,00 cm. This one, along with introduction 1.622, showed the greatest length and width of the primary leaf with 4,19 cm-4,02 cm and 0,69 cm-0,72 cm, respectively. The study shows great phenotypic diversity in the introductions characterized which can be useful for genetic improvement of the cultivated species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation tillage contributes to improving and sustaining productivity, improving profits and food security, while preserving the environment. Bacteria of the Bradyrhizobium and Azospirillum genera are efficient nitrogen fixers, which could contribute to soil fertility and health. Different types of conservation tillage were evaluated in interaction with a mixture of nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB) of the genera Azospyrillum and Bradyrhizobium on the components of the yield and the economic feasibility of the cultivation of corn for silage. The study was carried out at the Montelindo farm, located in the municipality of Palestina, Santagueda village, with a height above sea level of 1,062.9 m, average temperature of 22.8 °C, average annual rainfall of 2,200 mm and relative humidity 76%. The experimental design was divided plots, whose largest plot was tillage (Reduced, Minimal and Zero), the lowest plot was the dose of a mixture of Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria (NFB) (300cc / ha, 200cc /ha, 100cc / ha and 0cc / ha) with nine repetitions. The sowing was with the yellow corn hybrid Pioneer 30F35R, at a population density of 75,000 plants / ha. The number of leaves, stem thickness (cm), plant height (cm) and yield (kg / ha) were evaluated. The reduced tillage with doses of 100 and 200 cc / ha of NFB, together with the minimum tillage without NFB presented the best yields and economic indicators of the study, reaching in all three cases a C / B ratio of 2.3 and equal or higher yields at 60 t/ ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, tomato is one of the most cultivated crops worldwide, with the highest economic value, increasing its demand and, thus, its expansion, production, and trade. The tomato crop is susceptible to attack of pathogens with devastating consequences on the decline in yields from 50 to 100%. For this reason, new production methods are proposed such as grafting in wild rootstocks, which have high genetic variability and genes responsible for resistance to fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of grafting commercial tomato cultivars onto cherry tomato genotypes on yield and fruit quality. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications. The experimental unit consisted of four plants. spaced at 0.9 m between rows (channels), 0.30 m between double rows, and 0.4 m between plants. The treatments consisted of the combination of the following factors: three promising rootstocks (IAC391, IAC426, and LA2076), two commercial scions (Calima and Torrano), two grafting methods (cleft and splice), and two ungrafted commercial controls. Yield components, soluble solids content, percentage of fruit quality, and average fruit weight were evaluated. IAC391 was the most promising rootstock, reaching productions similar to those of the controls. The cleft grafting method, reached a success rate of 98.3%. The commercial scion Torrano stood out for achieving the highest yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]