Evaluation of Tomato (Solanum Esculentum L.) Cultivars for Growth Rate, Yield and Yield Components, and Nutritional Value Grown Under Open Field Conditions in the Lowlands of Mohale’s Hoek, Lesotho

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) has been produced for a century by households in the backyard gardens to meet home consumption. Nonetheless, demand for it has escalated necessitating importation from South Africa. This importation encouraged progressive vegetable farmers to grow it without much research undertaken on their growth rate, nutritional value and yield potential. The objectives of study were three manifolds; (i) to determine growth rates of eight tomato cultivars grown under open field conditions, (ii) to evaluate tomato cultivars for nutritional quality using laboratory techniques, (iii) to identify high yielding cultivars of tomato. Study was conducted in the Mohale’s Hoek district located 117 km south of Maseru, capital town of Lesotho. Randomized Completely Block Design was applied in laying out an experiment consisting of eight treatments (tomato cultivars) and three replications. Dimensions of main-plot were 20m x 12 m, while sub-plots measured 1.8m x 2m. Number of rows per plot was three, while inter-row and intra-row spacing were 60cm x 60cm, respectively. Growth parameters were measured for five intervals of three weeks, thus; 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 weeks. Growth parameters were plant height, stem diameter, stem height and leaf area index. Yield parameters were measured at three intervals; early, middle and late harvest. Parameters were: days to 50% flowering, flowers per cluster, days to fruiting, plant population stand, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter and marketable percentage. Nutritional parameters measured were: titratable acidity, sugar acid ratio, total soluble solids, ash content and moisture content. Data generated on growth rate, nutritional value and yield were analysed using analysis of variance to determine significant differences. Cultivars with the highest growth rate were Cherry Little Wonder, Money Maker and Hot Stuff. They commenced growth from week 3 to week 9 at an exponential rate, after which growth occurred at a logarithmic rate until week 15. Beyond week 15, they grew at an arithmetic rate to harvesting time. Tomato yield was highly influenced by plant population stand, number of fruits in a plant, fruit weight, fruit diameter, and marketable percentage per cultivar. Regarding nutritional value for different cultivars, Cherry Little Wonder, Money Maker, Rodade, Heinz and ash content had the highest titrable acids, sugar acid ratio, total soluble solids, lycopene and ash content, respectively. It can be concluded that Cherry Little Wonder, Rodade and STAR 9065 were ranking high in most of the parameters studied. It is recommended that they be evaluated under different environmental conditions.