ABSTRACT. The use of dwarf lines to obtain mini-tomato hybrid plants has led to agronomic and economic advantages. However, the benefits provided by dwarf parents in tomato hybrids of the Santa Cruz type remain unexplored. The aims of this study were to determine the agronomic enhancement in BC1F2 dwarf populations bearing characteristic fruit of the Santa Cruz type after the first backcross and to select populations with high agronomic potential and fruit quality. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using a randomized block design with 15 treatments and 4 replicates. Evaluated genetic materials included 11 BC1F2 dwarf tomato populations, both parents (recurrent and donor), and the cultivars (Santa Cruz Kada and Santa Clara). Traits evaluated included: mean weight, soluble solid concentration, number of locules, shape, pulp thickness, fruit longitudinal and transversal diameters, internode length, and plant height. Univariate, multivariate, correlation, and selection index analyses showed that mean fruit weight, transverse diameter, and pulp thickness increased significantly in dwarf populations after a single backcross, most of them exhibiting a fruit shape similar to that of the Santa Cruz type. The dwarf BC1F2 populations UFU-Sci#11 and UFU-Sci#12 showed high potential for obtaining lines and, subsequently, Santa Cruz type hybrids.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to estimate genetic divergence and select BC1F3 populations of dwarf tomato plant within the Santa Cruz segment by computational intelligence techniques. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in the Vegetable Crop Experimental Station of the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Monte Carmelo, MG, Brazil. A randomized block experimental design was used with 17 treatments and four replications. The genetic material evaluated comprised thirteen dwarf tomato plant populations obtained by a backcross and two self-fertilizations, plus both parents (recurrent and donor), and two commercial check varieties. The traits evaluated were mean fruit weight (MFW), soluble solids content (SSC), fruit diameter (FD), fruit length (FL), fruit shape (FS), pulp thickness (PT), number of locules (NL), distance between internodes, and acylsugar, β-carotene, and lycopene content. The data were analyzed by means testing, and genetic divergence was measured using Mahalanobis generalized distance by the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) and through computational intelligence using Kohonen self-organizing maps (SOM). Genetic dissimilarity in relation to the donor parent could be confirmed through both methodologies. However, the SOM was able to detect differences and organize the similarities among the populations in a more consistent manner, resulting in a larger number of groups. In addition, the computational intelligence techniques allow the weight of each variable in formation of the groups to be ascertained. Among the BC1F3 populations, UFU-SC#3 and UFU-SC#5 stood out for agronomic traits, and UFU-SC#10 and UFU-SC#11 stood out for quality parameters.

RESUMO Vantagens agronômicas e econômicas tem sido observadas com o uso de linhagens anãs para obtenção de híbridos em minitomate. No Brasil, predomina-se o cultivo de tomate do tipo salada. A exploração dos beneficios proporcionados pelo uso do parental anão em híbridos de tomateiro do tipo salada ainda não é uma realidade. A avaliação e seleção de populações de porte anão pode aumentar a eficiência do desenvolvimento de tais linhagens. Sendo assim, torna-se necessário o desenvolvimento de linhagens anãs do tipo salada. O retrocruzamento é o método mais adequado para se desenvolver tais linhagens. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi selecionar populações F2RC1 de tomateiro anão com potencial agronômico e qualidade de fruto.O experimento foi conduzido na Estação Experimental de Hortaliças da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU). Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos casualizados com 15 tratamentos e três repetições. O material genético avaliado consistiu de 12 populações F2RC1 de tomateiro anão, mais ambos os genitores (recorrente e doador) e um híbrido comercial. As características avaliadas foram: massa média (g), teor de sólidos solúveis (ºBrix), número de lóculos (lóculos fruto-1), formato, espessura da polpa (cm), diâmetro longitudinal (cm) e transversal do fruto (cm); comprimento dos internódios (cm) e altura das plantas (cm). Os dados foram analisados por meio de teste de médias, análises multivariadas e índice de seleção. De maneira geral, a massa média dos frutos das populações anãs aumentou significativamente após o primeiro retrocruzamento e algumas destas apresentaram o formato de fruto próximo ao do segmento salada. Ao selecionaras populações UFU-DTOM7, UFU-DTOM10, UFU-DTOM5, UFU-DTOM9 e UFU-DTOM3 foi estimado um incremento de até 6% no número de lóculos, diâmetro transversal, relação DT/DL e peso médio do fruto. As populações anãs F2RC1 UFU-DTOM7 e UFU-DTOM10 se destacaram sendo promissoras para obtenção de linhagens. Apesar do avanço considerável obtido na presente pesquisa, sugere-se a realização do segundo retrocruzamento e posterior obtenção de linhagens para formar híbridos.

ABSTRACT The use of dwarf lines to obtain mini-tomato hybrids has provided agronomic and economic benefits. In Brazil, round tomatoes predominate over other varieties. The benefits of using a dwarf parent in round tomato hybrids has yet to be explored, making it important to develop dwarf round tomato lines. Backcrossing is the most suitable method to develop these lines. Evaluation and selection of the dwarf populations can improve the development of such lines. Thus, the aim of this study was to select BC1F2 populations of dwarf round tomatoes with agronomic potential and high-quality fruit. The study was conducted at the Vegetable Experimental Station of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU). A randomized block design was used, with 15 treatments and three replicates. The genetic material analyzed consisted of 12 BC1F2 dwarf tomato populations, plus both parents (recurrent and donor) and a commercial hybrid. The characteristics assessed were: average fruit weight (g), total soluble solids (ºBrix), number of locules (locules per fruit-1), fruit shape, pulp thickness (cm), longitudinal (cm) and transverse fruit diameter (cm), internode length (cm) and plant height (cm). The data were submitted to mean testing, multivariate analyses and a selection index. In general, average fruit weight in the dwarf populations increased significantly after the first backcross, with some fruits exhibiting a similar shape to round tomatoes. Selection of the populations UFU-DTOM7, UFU-DTOM10, UFU-DTOM5, UFU-DTOM9, and UFU-DTOM3 resulted in an estimated 6% increase in the number of locules, transverse diameter, TD/LD ratio and average fruit weight. The BC1F2 dwarf populations UFU-DTOM7 and UFU-DTOM10 were the most promising for develop inbred lines with round fruits. Despite the considerable progress achieved in this study, we suggest a second backcross, in order to obtain lines and, posteriorly, hybrids with round fruits and compact plants.