Adaptation of Released Tomato Varieties (Solanum lycopersicum L. mill) Under Jimma Condition South West Ethiopia

An experiment was conducted for two consecutive years since 2014 to 2016 in Jimma area, south west with ten improved tomato varieties and on farmer’s local in randomized complete block design with three replications. Among the varieties tested, there was a high significant variation (P<0.05) in mean number of fruit cluster per plant, mean marketable fruit number per plant and mean marketable fruit yield ton per hectare in each year and mean of two years evaluation. Since 2014/15, Variety Eshete scored highest significance difference among varities with the score of 7.5 in mean number of fruit cluster per plant. Mean of marketable fruit number per plant in variety Bishola, Metadel and Melkasalsa scored highest significance difference among all tested varities with the score of 14, 13.25 and 13 respectively. Mean of marketable fruit yield in ton per hectare was highly significant difference in variety Melkasalsa (33.01ton ha-1) and followed by Miya (28.25 ton ha-1). Since 2015/16, the variety Melkasalsa resulted in highest significance difference in its mean number of fruit cluster per plant among all tested varities with the score of 23.33 which was three fold of its first year. Mean of marketable fruit number per plant was resulted in highest significance difference in variety Melkasalsa (54) which was four fold of its first year (13). Mean of marketable fruit yield in ton ha-1 was highly significant difference in variety Melkasalsa (40.547 ton ha-1) and about 22.83% yield advantage than the former year. The least marketable fruit yield ton ha-1 was recorded by the variety Bishola (6.6 ton ha-1) and Metadel (8.66 ton ha-1). Mean of marketable fruit yield in ton ha-1 over two years was highly significant difference in variety Melkasalsa (36.78 ton ha-1). As a result Melkasalsa was recommended for Jimma area and to be expanded through demonstrations. Keywords: fruit number, fruit cluster, fruit yield, improved variety. DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-20-04 Publication date:October 31st 201