Abstract
To produce a laborsaving variety with a short-internode-trait in tomato, the early selection method for the short-internode-trait was examined using breeding material with parthenocarpy. ‘Rinka 409’ was selected as a promising material with a short-internode-trait. The efficiency of the newly developed early selection method for the short-internode-trait was evaluated in S1 and S2 progeny of ‘Rinka 409’. A strong positive correlation was observed in the plant height in the early growth stage and length from the ground to the fifth fruit truss at the end of cultivation. According to this finding, individuals with a short length from the ground to the fifth fruit truss at the end of cultivation can be selected at an early growth stage by selecting those with a short height in this stage. The height of S2 progeny of ‘Rinka 409’ selected by the method in S1 was significantly shorter than that of F1 or S1 individuals. Heredity of the short-internode-trait using the early selection method was also observed in the F1 progeny between S2 individuals with a short internode and the parthenocarpic line. These results indicate that it is possible to efficiently introduce the short-internode-trait into parthenocarpic tomato using the plant height in the early growth period.
