Descriptors for Tomato 1

Descriptors for

Tomato
(Lycopersicon spp.)

IPGRI
2 Descriptors for Tomato
 Descriptors
Environmentforand
Tomato
Site 3

CHARACTERIZATION

1. Plant descriptors

1.1 Vegetative

1.1.1 Seedling
Records should be taken when the seedling primary leaves are fully opened and
the terminal bud is around 5 mm in size

1.1.1.1 Hypocotyl colour (4.1)

1 Green
2 1 / 4 purple from the base
3 1 / 2 purple from the base
4 Purple

1.1.1.2 Hypocotyl colour intensity

3 Low
5 Intermediate
7 High

1.1.1.3 Hypocotyl pubescence

0 Absent
1 Present

1.1.1.4 Primary leaf length [mm]

Average of 10 cotyledonous leaves

1.1.1.5 Primary leaf width [mm]

Average of 10 cotyledonous leaves

1.1.2 Plant characteristics

Records should be taken when the fruits of the 2nd and 3rd truss are ripened

* 7.1.2.1 Plant growth type (4.2)

Observed on the whole plot, after admixtures have been removed
1 Dwarf
2 Determinate
3 Semi-determinate
4 Indeterminate
 Characterization
Descriptors for Tomato 25

7.1.2.2 Plant size (7.11)

Visual estimation of the whole plot
Reference variety
3 Small UC82B
5 Intermediate many improved varieties
7 Large many improved local varieties

7.1.2.3 Vine length [cm]

Measured on 10 randomly selected plants from the soil level to the tip
of the longest stem of a plant

7.1.2.4 Stem pubescence density (7.3)

3 Sparse
5 Intermediate
7 Dense

7.1.2.5 Stem internode length

3 Short
5 Intermediate
7 Long

* 7.1.2.6 Foliage density (7.12)

3 Sparse
5 Intermediate
7 Dense

7.1.2.7 Number of leaves under 1st inflorescence (7.4)

Reference variety
3 Few Early North
7 Many Saint-Pierre

7.1.2.8 Leaf attitude (7.6)

3 Semi-erect
5 Horizontal
7 Drooping

* 7.1.2.9 Leaf type (7.7)

(See Fig. 3)
1 Dwarf 5 Pimpinellifolium
2 Potato leaf type 6 Hirsutum
3 Standard 7 Other (specify in
4 Peruvianum descriptor 7.4 Notes)
26 Descriptors for Tomato

1 2

3 4

5 6

Fig. 3 Leaf type

 Characterization
Descriptors for Tomato 27

7.1.2.10 Degree of leaf dissection

3 Low
5 Intermediate
7 High

7.1.2.11 Anthocyanin colouration of leaf veins (7.8)

Indicate the environmental conditions of the trial (e.g. temperature and
luminous intensity)
1 Obscure vein
2 Normal (clear)

7.2 Inflorescence and fruit

Unless otherwise indicated, all observations on the fruit should be taken, when possible,
on the 3rd fruit of the 2nd and / or 3rd truss at the full maturity stage, provided normal
fertilization has occurred.

7.2.1 Inflorescence descriptors

* 7.2.1.1 Inflorescence type (7.9)

Observe the 2nd and 3rd truss of at least 10 plants
1 Generally uniparous
2 Both (partly uniparous, partly multiparous)
3 Generally multiparous

* 7.2.1.2 Corolla colour

1 White
2 Yellow
3 Orange
4 Other (specify in descriptor 7.4 Notes)

7.2.1.3 Corolla blossom type

1 Closed
2 Open

7.2.1.4 Flower sterility type

1 Stemless
2 Functional
3 Pollen

7.2.1.5 Petal length [mm]

Average of 10 petals from different flowers of different plants

7.2.1.6 Sepal length [mm]

Average of 10 sepals from different flowers of different plants
28 Descriptors for Tomato

7.2.1.7 Style position

The relative position of the style compared with the stamens. Average
of 10 styles from different flowers of different plants.
1 Inserted
2 Same level as stamen
3 Slightly exserted
4 Highly exserted

7.2.1.8 Style shape

1 Simple
2 Fasciated
3 Divided

7.2.1.9 Style hairiness

0 Absent
1 Present

7.2.1.10 Stamen length [mm]

Average of 10 stamens from different flowers of different plants

7.2.1.11 Dehiscence
Reference variety
1 Poricidal L. pennellii
2 Longitudinal Rest of species

7.2.2 Fruit descriptors

Unless otherwise indicated, all observations on the fruit should be taken, when
possible, on the 3rd fruit of the 2nd and / or 3rd truss at the full maturity stage,
provided normal fertilization has occurred. Record the average of 10 fruits from
different plants.

* 7.2.2.1 Exterior colour of immature fruit (5.3)

Recorded before maturity
1 Greenish-white
3 Light green
5 Green
7 Dark green
9 Very dark green

* 7.2.2.2 Presence of green (shoulder) trips on the fruit

0 Absent (uniform ripening)
1 Present (fruit shoulders - upper part of the fruit, around
calyx - are green while pistilar area of the fruit is red)
 Characterization
Descriptors for Tomato 29

7.2.2.3 Intensity of greenback (green shoulder) (8.4)

3 Slight
5 Intermediate
7 Strong

7.2.2.4 Fruit pubescence

Reference variety
3 Sparse L. esculentum
5 Intermediate L. pennellii
7 Dense L. hirsutum

* 7.2.2.5 Predominant fruit shape (5.2)

Recorded after the fruits turn colour. (See Fig. 4)
1 Flattened (oblate)
2 Slightly flattened
3 Rounded
4 High rounded
5 Heart-shaped
6 Cylindrical (long oblong)
7 Pyriform
8 Ellipsoid (plum-shaped)
9 Other (specify in descriptor 7.4 Notes)

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

Fig. 4 Predominant fruit shape

30 Descriptors for Tomato

* 7.2.2.6 Fruit size (5.1)

At maturity
Reference variety
1 Very small (<3 cm) Cerise
2 Small (3 - 5 cm) Freude
3 Intermediate (5.1 - 8 cm) Vollendung
4 Large (8.1 - 10 cm) Bonset
5 Very large (>10 cm) Grosse rote

* 7.2.2.7 Fruit size homogeneity (8.2)

(Within a plant)
3 Low
5 Intermediate
7 High

* 7.2.2.8 Fruit weight [g]

* 7.2.2.9 Fruit length [mm] (8.1)

Recorded from stem end to blossom end, to one decimal place, at
maturity

* 7.2.2.10 Fruit width [mm]

Recorded at the largest diameter of cross-sectioned fruits to one decimal
place, at maturity

* 7.2.2.11 Exterior colour of mature fruit (8.6)

Recorded at maturity
1 Green
2 Yellow
3 Orange
4 Pink
5 Red
6 Other (specify in descriptor 7.4 Notes)

7.2.2.12 Intensity of exterior colour

3 Light
5 Intermediate
7 Dark
 Characterization
Descriptors for Tomato 31

7.2.2.13 Secondary fruit shape (8.3)

Recorded on fruits of the second and third truss, after the fruits turn
colour
1 Flattened (oblate)
2 Slightly flattened
3 Rounded
4 High rounded
5 Heart-shaped
6 Cylindrical (long oblong)
7 Pyriform
8 Ellipsoid (plum-shaped)
9 Other (specify in descriptor 7.4 Notes)

* 7.2.2.14 Ribbing at calyx end (5.9)

Reference variety
1 Very weak Cerise
3 Weak Allround
5 Intermediate Saint-Pierre
7 Strong Supermarmande

7.2.2.15 Easiness of fruit to detach from the pedicel

Recorded during harvesting
3 Easy
5 Intermediate
7 Difficult

7.2.2.16 Fruit shoulder shape

(See Fig. 5)
Reference variety
1 Flat Rossol
3 Slightly depressed
5 Moderately depressed Saint-Pierre
7 Strongly depressed

1 5

Fig. 5 Fruit shoulder shape

 32 Descriptors for Tomato

7.2.2.17 Pedicel length [cm]

Measured from peduncle to calyx

* 7.2.2.18 Pedicel length from abscission layer [cm] (8.10)

Recorded from abscission layer to calyx. Average of 10 pedicels from
different plants. (See Fig. 6)

Abscission layer

Fig. 6 Pedicel length from abscission layer

7.2.2.19 Presence/absence of jointless pedicel (5.8)

0 Absent
1 Present

* 7.2.2.20 Width of pedicel scar [mm]

Recorded at the widest part on 10 randomly selected fruits from
different plants
3 Narrow (covered by the calyx)
5 Medium (slightly apparent around the calyx)
7 Wide (very apparent around the calyx)

7.2.2.21 Size of corky area around pedicel scar [mm]

Recorded at the widest part on 10 randomly selected fruits
3 Small
5 Intermediate
7 Large

7.2.2.22 Easiness of fruit wall (skin) to be peeled

3 Easy
5 Intermediate
7 Difficult

* 7.2.2.23 Skin colour of ripe fruit (5.4)

Observe the peeled fruit skin
1 Colourless
2 Yellow
 Characterization
Descriptors for Tomato 33

7.2.2.24 Thickness of fruit wall (skin) [mm]

Measured with a dial caliper

7.2.2.25 Thickness of pericarp [mm] (8.8)

Measured from an equatorial section of the fruits

* 7.2.2.26 Flesh colour of pericarp (interior) (5.5)

1 Green
2 Yellow
3 Orange
4 Pink
5 Red
6 Other (specify in descriptor 7.4 Notes)

7.2.2.27 Flesh colour intensity (5.6)

3 Light
5 Intermediate
7 Dark

7.2.2.28 Colour (intensity) of core

1 Green
2 White
3 Light
5 Intermediate
7 Dark

* 7.2.2.29 Fruit cross-sectional shape (5.7)

(See Fig. 7)
1 Round
2 Angular
3 Irregular

1 2 3

Fig. 7 Fruit cross-sectional shape

34 Descriptors for Tomato

7.2.2.30 Size of core [cm] (8.9)

Measured on 10 cross-sectional randomly selected fruits at the widest
part of the core

* 7.2.2.31 Number of locules (8.7)

Counted on at least 10 fruits

* 7.2.2.32 Shape of pistil scar

(See Fig. 8)
1 Dot
2 Stellate
3 Linear
4 Irregular

1 2 3 4

Fig. 8 Shape of pistil scar

* 7.2.2.33 Fruit blossom end shape (8.15)

(See Fig. 9)
1 Indented
2 Flat
3 Pointed

1 2 3

Fig. 9 Blossom end shape

 Characterization
Descriptors for Tomato 35

7.2.2.34 Blossom end scar condition (8.16)

1 Open
2 Closed
3 Both

* 7.2.2.35 Fruit firmness (after storage) (5.11)

Recorded by pressing together in the palm on the side of a fruit at it
widest girth, i.e. sideways, 10 days after harvesting in full ripeness
3 Soft
5 Intermediate
7 Firm

7.3 Seed

7.3.1 Seed shape

1 Globular
2 Ovate
3 Triangular with pointed base

7.3.2 1000-seed weight [g]

7.3.3 Seed colour

1 Light yellow
2 Dark yellow
3 Grey
4 Brown
5 Dark brown

7.4 Notes
Any additional information, especially in the category of ‘other’ under various descriptors
above, may be specified here