Selection of tomato genotypes under water stress due to the expression of physiological characteristics

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological behavior of different tomato genotypes to assist in the selection of plants with tolerance to drought stress. It was used three blocks random and ten treatments: eight genotypes F2RC1 [UFU80- F2RC1 #1 (3.5); UFU102- F2RC1 #7 (13.4); UFU102- F2RC1 #7 (13.3); UFU102- F2RC1 #7 (16.8); UFU102- F2RC1 #3 (2.7); UFU80- F2RC1 #1 (11.8); UFU102- F2RC1 #7 (16.7); UFU102- F2RC1 #3 (14.5)], UFU-650 and LA-716. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with monitoring the flux density (W m-2), solar radiation (Qg), air temperature (°C), relative humidity (%) and the matric potential in the substrate (kPa). The collected physiological characteristics were: leaf temperature (Tleaf), internal CO2 (Ci), transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (gs) and CO2 assimilation (A), determined by portable gas analyzer infrared - IRGA. It was observed that the wild tomato S. pennellii was 6.96 times lower than the recurrent parent UFU-650 (pre-commercial line, susceptible to drought). The stomatal conductance (gs) showed significant values among genotypes. The results contribute to physiological characterization access S. pennellii (drought tolerant) and can assist in the selection of F2RC1 plants resistant to drought.