Chlorophyll level evaluation in tomatoes leaves of Santa Clara cultivar, of ‘firme’ mutant and hybrid F1 - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v25i1.2110

Abstract

Recently, in Viçosa (MG), a region of vegetable crop producing, tomatoes of Santa Clara cultivar, Lycopersicum esculentum (Solanaceae), that showed potential use for breeding programs, aiming to increase the shelf life of the fruit were identified. However, plants from the mutant ‘firme’ have precocious fealf senescence and reduction of the average fruit size when in homozygous background. The objective of the present study was the evaluation of the pigment levels in the leaves on different development positions and stage, utilizing the method described by Lichtenthaler (1987) and the SPAD (Soil Plant Analytical Division Value) in heterozygous mutant related to the progenitor Santa Clara cultivar and the homozygous mutant ‘firme’. Thus, two experiments containing two plants per vase grown in greenhouse and arranged at complete randomized way were set up. The data obtained through the Lichtenthaler (1987) method showed that the chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments were degraded earlier in the homozygous mutant ‘firme’ in comparison to Santa Clara cultivar. While using the SPAD the heterozygous plants had similar rates of chlorophyll degradation to the Santa Clara cultivar. Based on data, it was possible to conclude that the mutation in heterozygous stage containing Santa Clara in its background had its effects on biochemical characteristics restored