Assessment of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Landraces for Their Agronomic, Biochemical Characteristics and Resistance to Phytophthora infestans

Genetic diversity in crop plants is the conditio sine qua non for sustainable agriculture and long-term food security. Our research carried out the morphological, agronomic, and physico-chemical characterization and resistance to late blight of 35 tomato landraces from seven countries. These landraces have been approved and appear in the Official Catalog of Varieties. The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) descriptors have been used to describe the tomato's morphological and agronomic characteristics. For the physico-chemical characteristics, the dry matter, the pH, and the carotenoid content (lycopene, lutein, and beta-carotene)) were analyzed. Carotenoids were monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the morphological diversity of landraces was very high. Three landraces of remarkable commercial value have shown increased resistance to late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans, one of the most damaging diseases of tomato. Also, six landraces had a lycopene content exceeding 100 mu g/g sample. The carotenoid content ranged between 0.769 (Marmande-FR 166) and 140.328 mg kg(-1) FW (Rascruci). The landrace with the highest beta carotene content was PT 308 with 65.499 mg kg(-1) FW, while the lowest values were registered for Marmande-FR 166 with 0.105 mg kg(-1) FW. The present study provides essential information on the morphological and agronomic qualities of these tomato landraces and their lycopene and other carotenoid content. The results are discussed in light of the importance of tomato landraces in meeting the preferences of different producers and consumers, the choice of the most suitable landraces for specific pedoclimatic conditions, and the supply of carotenoid pigment sources for the pharmaceutical industry. Our research responds to humanity's great global challenges: preserving agricultural biodiversity, protecting the environment by identifying pest-resistant varieties, and also protecting consumer health by finding important sources of antioxidants.

Automated summary

This study conducted research on the morphological, agronomic, and physico-chemical characteristics of 35 tomato landraces from seven countries. The results showed high morphological diversity among these landraces, with three landraces exhibiting increased resistance to late blight. Furthermore, six landraces were found to have a lycopene content exceeding 100 μg/g sample. This study provides essential information on the characteristics and carotenoid content of these tomato landraces.