PERFORMANCE OF ROMANIAN TOMATO LINES UNDER THE AGRO-ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Abstract

The paper presents the results of the evaluation of the variability of earliness traits, fruit characteristics, productivity, and heat resistance, as well as the determination of the genetic and breeding value of genotypes of Romanian origin. Cluster analysis (the k-means method) demonstrated that the inter-cluster variance was significantly higher than the intra-cluster variance for traits such as fruit weight, fruit diameter, mesocarp thickness, and the number of locules, indicating that the studied genotypes exhibited distinct and pronounced differences. It was found that the response of tomato plants to temperatures of 25 °C and 43 °C differed depending on the genotype, the growing organ, and the temperature level. Line L 168 exhibited high resistance to 43°C and the highest productivity under the conditions of the central region of the Republic of Moldova, making it of particular interest for breeding programs as a potential genetic source of productivity and heat resistance.