Adaptability and Performance Evaluation of Recently Released Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. L.) Varieties at West and Kellem Wollega Zones under Supplementary Irrigation

Kibiru Kena^*, Zewdu Tegenu, Ashenafi Debela, Admasu Raga

Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Haro Sabu Agricultural Research Center, Department of

Horticulture

*Corresponding author. Email: kibiruk12@gmail.com.

Accepted 6 November, 2018

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the most important edible and nutritious vegetable crops in the world. A field experiment was conducted at Meti and Kombolcha sub sites of Kellem Wollega, and Inango of West Wollega zones in Western Ethiopia, during the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 cropping season under supplementary irrigation. A total of 11 tomato varieties collected from Melkasa Agricultural Research Center (MARC) of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and one local check variety were used as planting materials. The combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) for fruit yield and other agronomic traits of 12 tomato varieties grown at five locations in 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 revealed significant varietal difference for all considered traits except for unmarketable yield and number of branches per plant. In the present experiment, Melka shola, Melka salsa, Fetene and Miya varieties were found superior in terms of economic yield (marketable yield) and other parameters and thus they are recommended for popularization and wider production in test locations and similar agro-ecologies in the Western Oromia in particular and tomato producing regions of Ethiopia under supplementary irrigation in general.

Keywords: Fetene, Irrigation, Melka salsa,Melka shola, Tomato, Yield