Selection of F2RC1 saladette-type dwarf tomato plant populations for fruit quality and whitefly resistance

ABSTRACT This study aimed to select promising F2RC1 populations of saladette-type dwarf tomato plants for the development of breeding lines based on agronomic characteristics, fruit quality, and whitefly resistance. The experimental design was randomized blocks containing 13 treatments (10 F2RC1 populations of dwarf tomato plants, both parents, and a commercial hybrid) with four replicates. The evaluations were performed included weight, length, diameter, shape, pulp thickness, number of locules, soluble solids, β-carotene, and lycopene concentration of the fruit; plant internode length; acylsugars concentration; and number of whitefly eggs, nymphs, and adults on the leaflets. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, selection indices, and multivariate analysis. The first backcross increased the agronomic characteristics of the populations in relation to the donor parent, especially for fruit weight (169.1%), fruit length (26.1%), and fruit diameter (16.6%). The UFU SDi 7, UFU SDi 9, and UFU-SDi 17 populations were selected using two selection indices and were therefore considered promising.