Abstract

Experiments were conducted on a sandy loam soil at the Teaching and Research farm of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso (8°10N; 4°10E) between April and July, 2004 to evaluate the growth, fruit yield and quality of seven varieties of tomato in the Guinea Savannah zone of South West Nigeria. The varieties tested were, DT97/162A(R), DT97/215A, Tropical, Roma VF, UC82B, Ibadan local and Ogbomoso local. These were assigned randomly into three blocks each containing seven beds and fitted into randomized complete block design. Growth, yield, mineral content and quality attributes of tomato were assessed. The results showed that DT97/162A(R) gave the highest height whereas Ogbomoso local recorded the highest number of leaves at 6 weeks after transplanting. Higher fruit yield was recorded from UC82B, closely followed by Ibadan and Ogbomoso local. Although, there is inconsistence in the results of the nutritional compositions of tomato fruits, the local varieties (Ogbomoso and Ibadan Local) closely followed by UC82B recorded most of the nutritional values more than the other varieties. Therefore UC82B, Ibadan and Ogbomoso local in that descending order are better in terms of fruit yield and quality, and can be successfully grown in Ogbomoso, the Guinea Savannah zone of south west Nigeria. 

Key words: Lycopersicum lycopersicon, varieties, growth, fruit yield, fruit quality.