Tree tomatoes to diversify Andean agriculture

Executive Summary

 Tree tomato cultivation and processing was promoted in the high Andean region where its importance is asymmetric, with greater importance in Colombia and Ecuador which have field collections and seed banks. Genetic improvement was addressed through germplasm collection and conservation, to increase productivity and promote value-added agro-industrial processes. Work was done on the planting materials used by the producers, determining the biotic and abiotic problems. Elite material was multiplied through tissue culture to provide planting material. Field collections obtained 383 accessions that have been incorporated to the collections and have been characterized, morphologically and agronomically, to identify adaptation and productivity attributes and molecular characterization was initiated.  The biochemical components of the fruits were analyzed to design processing prototypes. Resistance to  anthracnose was found in a wild species and interspecific hybrids were cloned. One of the clones yielded 50 t/ha/year with the presence of the pathogen in 8% of the berries, higher than the average productivity of 15 t/ha. The inhibitory effect of extracts from wild material and the hybrid on the growth of fungi was tested. Protocols were developed to break seed dormancy and it was found that the dormancy is not deep, useful information for the control of seeds in storage. 

The technological solution

The technological solutions proposed are based on the gradual obtaining of improved varieties, more productive and disease resistant, from the germplasm collection and their morphological, agronomic and molecular characterization followed by the work of breeding, crossing and selection. Protocols for fruit processing will also be refined with a view to adding value to the product. 

Results

Beneficiaries

The main beneficiaries are the research institutions participating in the project that have increased their knowledge of a crop with high agronomic and agroindustrial potential and have enriched their germplasm collections for the benefit of the crop's genetic improvement. In the long term, farmers in the region will benefit from improved planting material and more efficient technical advice. Fruit processing companies and consumers will also benefit. 

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors