IDENTIFICATION OF OUTSTANDING SALADETTE TOMATO LINES WITH A WIDENED GENETIC BASE.

The "bell pepper" or "chino criollo" tomato is a native Mexican variety with similar characteristics to the "Saladette" tomato and the potential to be used as a source of germplasm to generate commercial hybrids of this type. The aim of this investigation was to identify and select advanced lines with a wide genetic base, derived from crosses between Saladette tomatoes and native populations to generate free pollination varieties and potential parents of Saladette tomato hybrids. The hypothesis was that crosses between native populations and Saladette commercial hybrids generate outstanding offspring. The 103 genotypes evaluated included 10 native parents, three parents derived from commercial hybrids, one commercial hybrid control ("El Cid") and 89 S4 advanced lines. The evaluation was carried out in a greenhouse and hydroponics during the 2020 spring-summer cycle, using a randomized complete block experimental design with three replications and four plants per replication. The total weight and number of fruits were recorded based on the sum of the two cuts performed. The days to flowering of the first cluster, average fruit weight, and total soluble solids were also determined. Analyses of variance were carried out for each variable, as well as orthogonal contrasts and correlations between different combinations of the materials of interest. The comparison of means was carried out using Tukey's test (p £ 0.05). Nine advanced lines with similar or greater characteristics to the control were identified and are recommended to be recombined genetically in a diallelic cross scheme to identify new outstanding offspring. The advanced line 2051 (LOR85 X C) was identified, with a similar yield to that reported for the control, which can be used as an open pollination variety since it has similar characteristics to the control "El Cid", but with native tomato genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]