Development of cherry tomato variety from interspecific cross (Solanum esculentum and S. pimpinellifolium) for protected cultivation
Abstract
A cherry tomato variety ‘Punjab Red Cherry’ was bred from an interspecific cross between Solanum esculentum and S. pimpinellifolium following pedigree method of selection. It is an indeterminate tomato variety. Fruits of ‘Punjab Red Cherry’ are round, medium sized (11.5 g), sweet (6.25° Brix) and deep red with good shelf-life. A mid-October planted crop in north Indian plains produced early fruit yield (late-March) of 39 Mt ha−1 and total yield of 109 Mt ha−1. ‘Punjab Red Cherry’ is tolerant to leaf curl virus and is suitable for protected/greenhouse cultivation.
Keywords
Cherry tomato, Interspecific cross, Pedigree method, Protected cultivation, Punjab Red Cherry, Variety development
