HYBRIDIZATION IN TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum L.) GERMPLASM FOR THE INCORPORATION OF UNCONVENTIONAL COLORS
In Mexico, the predominant commercial Solanum lycopersicum L. varieties are red. Nevertheless, materials with alternative pigmentations can serve as a source of genetic variation for the expression of diverse fruit colors while providing nutraceutical properties of interest. The aim of this study was to determine the agronomic performance of hybrids derived from nine contrasting parents with different fruit shapes, colors, and indeterminate growth habits, as well as their direct crosses, for agronomic, color, and fruit quality traits in order to select outstanding genotypes. Twenty crosses were obtained by combining four elite red female parents with five male color donors. The experiment was established under a randomized complete block design with four replications and 10 plants per experimental unit. Yield components, fruit quality, and color characteristics were evaluated. The agronomic performance of the crosses and parents was estimated, along with mean heterosis, high-parent heterosis, and type of gene action. Significant differences among crosses were detected for all evaluated variables, except for the color component b*. Crosses involving the pink parent showed higher values for yield components, whereas crosses involving orange parents exhibited better fruit quality. Phenotypic values among parents were significant for total fruit weight (TFW), total number of fruits (TNF), days to flowering (DF), days to maturity (DM), and the color variables L*, a*, and b*. Mean heterosis reached values of up to 94.5 %, indicating average effects of partial dominance and dominance toward the male parent.