Performance of indigenous tomato accessions from Lake Victoria Crescent

Abstract

A study to access the performance of indigenous tomato accessions from Lake Victoria crescent was conducted with objectives to evaluate the growth characteristics red and yellow indigenous tomato; to compare the yield of red and yellow indigenous tomato and the farmers’ perception on the growing of indigenous tomato. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth characteristics of red and yellow indigenous tomatoes at the department of Agriculture Kyambogo University. Thirty accessions were evaluated in planting pots in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times. The second experiment was to compare the yield of red and yellow indigenous tomato was also conducted at the department of Agriculture Kyambogo University. Ten accessions of five red and five yellow were used in the field experiment which was laid out in a random complete block design (RCBD).The plot size was 2m by 2m with the spacing of 1m between the rows and 0.5m between the plots in three replicates. A survey was carried out using questionnaire to assess farmers’ perception on growing of indigenous tomatoes. The results showed that there was significant difference between growth characteristics of red and yellow indigenous tomatoes on; number of fruits, number of brunches, PLL and PLW at( p<0.05). On yield performance, results revealed that the yellow indigenous tomatoes perform better than red indigenous tomatoes at 5% LSD. On perception, farmers indicated that red indigenous tomatoes are grown more than yellow indigenous tomatoes are grown mainly for subsistence consumption and they are more resistant to pests and diseases among others. Data for growth characteristics was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Yield performance between red and yellow indigenous tomatoes was analyzed using a T-test (15th edition) and the farmers perception was analyzed using SPPS. The study concluded that there was a significant difference in number of fruits, number of brunches, PLL, PLW and yield. Farmers mainly grow red indigenous tomatoes for subsistence purposes.