Diversity of Mexican wild tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicumvar. cerasi-forme) produced in a greenhouse

Objective: To characterize and evaluate the agronomic diversity of 31 native tomato populations from Mexico, cultivated under greenhouse conditions in Sinaloa. Design/Methodology/Approach: The biological material was collected from eight Mexican states and transplanted into soil beds in 2022. The experimental design consisted of plots arranged in rows with three replications, where the experimental unit comprised the three central rows, totaling 279 plants. Agronomic traits and fruit quality variables were measured and analyzed using the SAS 9 statistical package. Results: Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were observed across the evaluated variables. Mean comparisons highlighted key traits: number of fruits per plant reached 89 (Hidalgo), fruit weight was 46.6 g (Oaxaca 7), yield was 2.5 kg per plant (Veracruz 3), number of locules reached 9 (Veracruz 1), and total soluble solids were 9.2 °Brix (Oaxaca 5). Limitations/Implications: Genotypes with small fruits (~2 g) require intensive labor due to their high shoot production, representing a challenge for large-scale cultivation. Findings/Conclusions: The evaluated genotypes exhibit strong potential for hybrid vigor, particularly in agronomic performance (Veracruz 4), yield (Veracruz 3), and fruit quality (Oaxaca 5). These findings are valuable for future hybridization efforts in tomato breeding programs.