Storage Performance of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Parents and Hybrids under Ambient Room Conditions

Abstract

A total of 18 F₁ hybrids developed through a Line × Tester mating design involving six lines and three testers were evaluated in a completely randomized block design with a factorial concept and three replications. The treatments comprised 18 F₁ hybrids along with nine parents (six lines and three testers), two commercial hybrids, and one variety used as checks. Among the treatments, the highest ascorbic acid content was recorded in LE-56 × Pusa Gaurav (35.49 mg/100 g), which was on par with LE-64 × Punjab Chhuhara (34.94 mg/100 g) and LE-56 × Pant T-3 (34.17 mg/100 g). The significantly highest total carotenoid content was observed in LE-64 (19.74 mg/100 g), followed by LE-64 × Punjab Chhuhara (19.13 mg/100 g) and LE-56 × Punjab Chhuhara (18.32 mg/100 g). The highest lycopene content was recorded in LE-56 × Punjab Chhuhara (15.72 mg/100 g), which was on par with LE-64 × Punjab Chhuhara (15.60 mg/100 g), followed by LE-64 (14.74 mg/100 g) and LE-62 × Punjab Chhuhara (14.71 mg/100 g). The organoleptic score was significantly highest in LE-56 × Punjab Chhuhara (4.52), which was on par with LE-64 × Punjab Chhuhara (4.47) and LE-56 × Pusa Gaurav (4.42), while the lowest score was recorded in LE-67 (2.85). After storage up to 16 days, the highest organoleptic score was observed in LE-56 × Punjab Chhuhara (2.78), followed by LE-64 × Punjab Chhuhara (2.70). Across all storage intervals, LE-56 × Punjab Chhuhara and LE-64 × Punjab Chhuhara consistently recorded the highest organoleptic scores.