Abstract

Tomato is a vegetable of great economic importance in Burkina Faso. This study evaluated agromorphological diversity within 40 tomato accessions from Burkina Faso and Mali. Trials were conducted during 2015 growing season and IPGRI descriptors were considered in collecting data on field as well as in laboratory. Results revealed the collection to be interestingly diversified. All studied characters presented several modalities, with heterogeneous one predominant. Leaf type, external color of both immature and mature fruit was the most variables showing 5 homogeneous modalities in each case. Peruvianum leaf type was predominant (17.5%) followed by standard type (5%) while red was the main fruit color at maturity in 25% of accessions. Rare interesting traits, that is, Hirsutum, dwarf, potato leaf types, and yellow and orange mature fruit color could be highlighted by detailed investigation on heterogeneous accessions. PCA clustered accessions in 4 groups, with G1 (cherry fruit) and G3 (large and flattened fruit) the most distinctive ones. The strongest positive correlations were observed between number of inflorescences per branch and average number of fruits per plant. This entire variability could be used in tomato breeding program, especially to enhance the β-carotene content in Burkina Faso tomato local varieties.

Key words: Tomato, accessions, variability, Burkina Faso, Mali.