Optimization of tomato cultivars for high tunnel production in Iwollo, Southeast Nigeria: A rank summation index approach

J. O. Adinde, C. H. Aniodoh, U. J. Anieke, O. G. Nwankwo

Article ID: 8044
Vol 8, Issue 1, 2025

VIEWS - 579 (Abstract)

Abstract


Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) is a highly valued crop in the world, particularly in Nigeria with high nutritional and economic benefits. However, its production in Iwollo, Southeast Nigeria, is constrained by unfavorable weather conditions. To address this, a study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Horticultural Technology, Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, Southeast Nigeria to evaluate and select the best cultivar for high tunnel production using the Rank Summation Index. Completely Randomized Design with three replications was used, and six high-yielding cultivars, namely Roma VF, BHN-1021, Supremo, Pomodro, Money maker, and Iwollo local, were evaluated. Data were collected on key agronomic characters and analyzed with Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at a 0.05 level of probability. There were significant differences in the number of leaves per plant, plant height, number of branches per plant, days to fruit maturity, fresh fruit weight, number of harvested fresh fruits per plant, and fresh fruit yield per plant among the cultivars. These characters that showed significant differences were ranked and summed up to obtain the Rank Summation Index (RSI) score. The results revealed that the Supremo cultivar had the lowest and best score (18). This suggests Supremo as the best cultivar for high tunnel tomato production in the study area, based on its superior performance across key agronomic traits.


Keywords


adverse climatic conditions; cultivar selection; high tunnel production; <i>Solanum lycopersicon</i>; rank summation index (RSI)

Full Text:

PDF


References


de Souza Ld, Andrade BO, Stehmann JR. An overview on studies of species complexes in Solanaceae. Acta Botanica Brasilica. 2023; 37. doi: 10.1590/1677-941x-abb-2023-0032 Poczai P, D’Agostino N, Deanna R, et al. Editorial: Solanaceae VIII: biodiversity, climate change and breeding. Frontiers in Genetics. 2023; 14. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1348372 Swamy KRM. Origin, distribution, taxonomy, botanical description, genetic diversity and breeding of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). International Journal of Development Research. 2023; 13(4): 62364-62387. Ifagbémi BC, Olouchègoun JO, Sèna ECAD, et al. Tomato Seed (Solanum lycopersicum) Meal Derived From Agrifood Waste as Functional Ingredient: Nutritional Value, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities, and Functional Properties. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation. 2024; 1: 8824581. doi: 10.1155/2024/8824581 Enujeke EC. Effects of variety and spacing on growth characters of hybrid maize. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development. 2013; 3(5): 296-310. Muhammed A, Tariq M, Richard T, et al. An overview of heat stress in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. 2021; 28(3): 1654-1663. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.11.088 Stefano P, Salvatore D, Andrea GC, et al. A Review of the Most Common and Economically Important Diseases That Undermine the Cultivation of Tomato Crop in the Mediterranean Basin. Agronomy. 2021; 11(11): 2188. doi: 10.3390/agronomy11112188 Farooq A, Farooq N, Akbar H, et al. A Critical Review of Climate Change Impact at a Global Scale on Cereal Crop Production. Agronomy. 2023; 13(1): 162. doi: 10.3390/agronomy13010162 Habib-ur-Rahman M, Ahmad A, Raza A, et al. Impact of climate change on agricultural production; Issues, challenges, and opportunities in Asia. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2022; 13. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.925548 Rogers MA, Wszelaki AL. Influence of High Tunnel Production and Planting Date on Yield, Growth, and Early Blight Development on Organically Grown Heirloom and Hybrid Tomato. HortTechnology. 2012; 22(4): 452-462. doi: 10.21273/horttech.22.4.452 O’Connell S, Rivard C, Peet MM, et al. High Tunnel and Field Production of Organic Heirloom Tomatoes: Yield, Fruit Quality, Disease, and Microclimate. HortScience. 2012; 47(9): 1283-1290. doi: 10.21273/hortsci.47.9.1283 Martínez-Blanco J, Muñoz P, Antón A, et al. Assessment of tomato Mediterranean production in open-field and standard multi-tunnel greenhouse, with compost or mineral fertilizers, from an agricultural and environmental standpoint. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2011; 19(9-10): 985-997. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2010.11.018 Gude KM, Pliakoni ED, Cunningham B, et al. High Tunnel Coverings Alter Crop Productivity and Microclimate of Tomato and Lettuce. HortScience. 2022; 57(2): 265-272. doi: 10.21273/hortsci16208-21 Díaz-Pérez JC, Bag S, Coolong T, et al. Plant Growth, Fruit Yield, and Tomato Leaf Curl Disease of High Tunnel Organic Tomato Affected by Shade Net and Plastic Mulch Color. HortScience. 2024; 59(3): 323-331. doi: 10.21273/hortsci17516-23 Mesbah A, Garcia A, Frost S. Tomato production inside and outside high tunnel. Field Days Bulletin; 2012. pp.143-144. Welde K, Diriba B. Adaptability study and evaluation of improved varieties of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) under irrigation for their yield and yield components in east Wollega, western Ethiopia. Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. 2021; 8(7):118-125. doi: 10.22192/ijarbs.2021.08.07.013 Warren ND, Sideman RG, Smith RG. Performance of High Tunnel Tomato Cultivars in Northern New England. HortTechnology. 2015; 25(1): 139-146. doi: 10.21273/horttech.25.1.139 Sampaio Filho JS, Olivoto T, Campos M de S, et al. Multi-trait selection in multi-environments for performance and stability in cassava genotypes. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2023; 14. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1282221 Bertini CHCM, Almeida WS de, Silva APM da, et al. Multivariate analysis and selection index in the identification of superior cowpea genotypes (Portuguese). Acta Scientiarum Agronomy. 2010; 32(4). doi: 10.4025/actasciagron.v32i4.4631 Coutinho G, Pio R, Machado de Souza FB, et al. Multivariate Analysis and Selection Indices to Identify Superior Quince Cultivars for Cultivation in the Tropics. HortScience. 2019; 54(8): 1324-1329. doi: 10.21273/hortsci14004-19 Teixeira DHL, Oliveira M do SP de, Gonçalves FMA, et al. Selection indices for the simultaneous improvement of fruit production components in açaizeiro trees (Portuguese). Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira. 2012; 47(2): 237-243. doi: 10.1590/s0100-204x2012000200012 Okoli EE. Exploitation of rank summation index for the selection of 21 maize hybrids for green maize production in South-eastern Nigeria. Journal of Bioscience and Biotechnology Discovery. 2021; 6(2): 13-18. doi: 10.31248/jbbd2021.150 Onwubiko NC, Uguru MI, Chimdi GO. Selection for Yield Improvement in Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L. VERDC.). Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics. 2019; 7(2). Dasta T, Yosef A. Evaluation of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum MILL.) Genotypes for Quantitative, Qualitative and Quality Traits at Mid-altitude and Central Rift Valley. International Journal of Research in Agricultural Sciences. 2021; 8(1):42-54. Omeje TE, Ugwuoke KI, Adinde JO, et al. Effect of cropping season on the control of Taro Leaf Blight (Phytophthora colocasiae) of cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta L.) in Nsukka, south eastern Nigeria. International Journal of Advanced Biological Research. 2016; 6(1): 30-39. Aurora SC, Florin PA, Adnan A, et al. High Tunnel Cultivation: Evaluating the Growth and Productivity of Different Tomato Varieties. International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Studies. 2024; 4(4): 1276-1284. doi: 10.62225/2583049x.2024.4.4.3177 Çelik İ, Aydin S, Kayikçi HC, et al. Evaluation of the Relations between Yield and Yield Components of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Hybrids by Correlation and Path Analysis. Horticultural Studies. 2023; 40(2): 49-54. doi: 10.16882/hortis.1283084 Temesgen B. Application of Genotype by Environmental Interaction in Crop Plant Enhancement. International Journal of Research Studies in Agricultural Sciences (IJRSAS). 2022; 8(2):1-12. doi: 10.20431/2454-6224.0802001 Liu W, Zhang Y, He H, et al. From hybrid genomes to heterotic trait output: Challenges and opportunities. Current Opinion in Plant Biology. 2022; 66: 102193. doi: 10.1016/j.pbi.2022.102193 Tagiakas RI, Avdikos ID, Goula A, et al. Characterization and evaluation of Greek tomato landraces for productivity and fruit quality traits related to sustainable low-input farming systems. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2022; 13. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.994530 Lee M, Rivard C, Wang W, et al. Spectral Blocking of Solar Radiation in High Tunnels by Poly Covers: Its Impact on Nutritional Quality Regarding Essential Nutrients and Health-Promoting Phytochemicals in Lettuce and Tomato. Horticulturae. 2021; 7(12): 524. doi: 10.3390/horticulturae7120524 Montri A, Biernbaum JA. Management of the Soil Environment in High Tunnels. HortTechnology. 2009; 19(1): 34-36. doi: 10.21273/horttech.19.1.34 Jamarkattel D, Tuladhar F, Jamir C, et al. Tunnel Farming as an Adaptation Tool Against Climate Change Effect Among Smallholder Farmers in Nepal. In: Sustainable Food Value Chain Development. SpringerLink; 2023. Gu S. High Tunnel Farming. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; 2021. KC D, Jamarkattel D, Maraseni T, et al. The Effects of Tunnel Technology on Crop Productivity and Livelihood of Smallholder Farmers in Nepal. Sustainability. 2021; 13(14): 7935. doi: 10.3390/su13147935



DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/th8044

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.