TOMATO BREEDING PROGRAM FOR YIELD AND QUALITY AT BRAZILIAN NORTHEAST

Processing tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops at Brazilian Northeast. During 1993, an area of 5.300 ha has been cultivated at Pernambuco and Bahia states only. The most used varieties are IPA-5, IPA-6, two cultivars developed at IPA- Empresa Pernambucana de Pesquisa Agropecuária, and UC-82. The breeding program conducted at IPA aims the development of varieties with higher yield capacity, resistance to pathogens and pests, coupled with better quality traits such as brix and color and good adaptation for high temperature environments. Until now, most of the program has been based on pedigree selection. At present, few progenies are in the final stage of test and development with yields ranging from 40 x 60 t ha^-1, and °brix from 5 to 6.5. Recently, two new research projects have started. The first one has as principal objective the development of genotypes with resistance to Scrobipalpuloides absoluta and Aculops lycopersici, the two main insect pests in the area. The second, emphasizes on hybrid development through genetic male sterility using local cultivars as male parents.