Evaluation of Tomato Genotypes Growth, Yield, and Shelf Life Enhancement in Nigeria

Nine tomato genotypes ('NACGRAB-1', 'NACGRAB-2', 'NACGRAB-3', 'NACGRAB-4', 'NACGRAB-5 ', 'NACGRAB-6 ', 'NACGRAB-7', 'NACGRAB-8' and 'NAC GRAB-9 ') from the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Madan, Nigeria; with four commercial varieties ('Petomech', 'Uc 82B', 'Yolince' and 'Derica') and two landraces ('Ekwunato' and 'Tomato Mmiri') were evaluated for their agronomic performance in a derived savannah region. Morphological and floral data were collected on them. At maturity, forty tomato fruits, each from five selected genotypes, were immersed in 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 g L-1 AgNO3 varying concentrations of silver/neem (Azadirachta indica) solutions and a control to study the storability of the fruits. During storage, number of days to 10, 50, and 100% fruit rot incidences were monitored on the treated fruits. 'NACGRAB-7' took the longest number of days to 10, 50, and 100% fruit rot and was significantly different from the other genotypes. The lowest number of days to fruit rot was obtained from 'NACGRAB-6'. Solution-B containing (8 g L-1 neem extract plus 0.2 g L-1 AgNO3) had the highest number of days to 10 and 50% fruit rot. The fruits that were not treated rotted faster than the treated fruits.