ADAPTATION AND SELECTION FOR NEW SALINITY TOLERATING TOMATO LINE (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the adaptation and selection of Castle Rock (fresh market tomato cv) for salinity tolerance. Also, to study the initial assessment of epigenetic variation under the salinity stress and taking advantage of these variations to adapt and select new tolerant line of Castle Rock. The study took about 6 years from 2005 to 2010. Adaptation and selection was conducted for the characteristics, plant height, main stem diameter, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, dry matters weight per plant, fruit setting, number of days to 50% flowering, number of days to fruit ripening, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, total yield per plant, total chlorophyll content, total soluble solids, titrated acidity, vitamin C content, seed germination, proline content, Ca ++ , K + and Na + content. As well as, anatomy was done for the main stem examining the percentage in measure between the stem diameter and pith, cortex and xylem. Three tomato genotypes were under the trial, Castle Rock (salinity sensitive cv), Edkawy (salinity tolerance cv) and C 9 (Castle Rock adapted selected new line). C 9 proved tolerant to salinity through adaptation in 9 selecting cycles and it can be reproduced as a new Castle Rock improved line for salinity tolerance.