CARACTERIZACIÓN MORFOLÓGICA DE FRUTOS DE TOMATE DE ÁRBOL (Solanum betaceum Cav.) DE UNA POBLACIÓN SEGREGANTE

Physical and chemical characteristics of fruits of 158 segregating tomato tree plants from interspecific crosses between [(S. unilobum x S. betaceum) x S. betaceum] x S. betaceum were evaluated. The methodology of Bioversity International was used, using descriptors of fruit, seed and chemical composition. The factor studied was the type of segregant, in total eight. The statistical analyzes were performed with the Infostat 2015 software. The cluster analysis using Ward’s minimum distance showed three groups of segregants with a cofeetic correlation coefficient of 0.708. In the analysis of main components, it was determined that four variables explained 84% of the variability. A Duncan test at 5% was performed to determine differences between groups. Using an index raised as a result of the sum of the 12 variables considered most important, promising individuals were selected, who will be employed in programs that contribute to the plant breeding of this fruit.