Physiological Responses and Nutritional Composition of Two Tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum ) Cultivars-Roma-VF and IFE-1

This work investigates the growth and physiological responses of locally grown tomato cultivars with a known hybrid (Roma-VF cultivars). Seeds of two tomato cultivars: Roma VF (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.Cv) was collected from National Horticulture Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan while the Local tomato: Ife-1 (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill. Cv) obtained from the market woman in the central market, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife. The seed of the plant were planted in perforated plastic containers containing soil collected at the base of hill 1(latitude 7’3’9.40 and longitude 4’3’24.52) in Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State. The containers placed where they can have access to direct sunlight. The growth parameters of the plants were determined which include the leaf length, width and the shoot size was observed. The weight and growth rate of the shoot were determined. The fruits obtained from all the cultivar were exposed to proximate analysis. It was observed that the shoot of the two cultivars increased in the course of the experiment but at the end the shoot of Roma () was longer than that of local cultivar. More number of leaves was present in Roma compare to local one. Roma has higher moisture content (5.9% M.C)) than the local cultivar (4.7% M.C). Average number of fruits in Roma was (15) which is higher than that of local one (10). From all the parameters observed in this work it was observed that Roma cultivar which is a hybrid do far better in all indication than the local tomato cultivar. This may be as a result of Roma hybrid characteristics such as resistances to disease and unfavorable environmental factors. Equally the improved nutritional value of the Roma tomato and lot of genetically modified features are key to this cultivar (Roma) advancement.