Screening of drought tolerant tomato genotypes based on biochemical attributes

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This research was conducted with the aim to distinguish the selected tomato genotypes based on drought tolerance level under Poly ethylene glycol (PEG 6000) simulated drought stress by the biochemical markers like proline, phenolics, flavonoids, reducing and non- reducing sugars. The experiment was performed in controlled conditions using complete randomized block design with three replications. The tomato genotypes investigated showed varying response for different biochemical attributes. Control (0%), 5%, 7.5%, 10% and 12.5% Poly ethylene glycol (PEG) treatments were used in experiment. Leaf extract was used to quantify these biochemical traits. It was observed that successive increase in PEG concentration increases the proline. The highest 54.5 mg/g proline contents was recorded in G-45-19212. The maximum 20.7 mg/g proline contents were recorded for G- 31–00623 and the lowest was 16. 5 mg/g for G-8-19219. G-38-19896 produced the maximum 60 µg / g phenolic contents and 5 µg / g the minimum was produced by the G 8-19219 at control (without PEG). 12µg /g maximum flavonoid contents were observed in the genotype G 31-19896 and minimum 4 µg /g by G 7- 10593. Reducing and non- reducing sugars showed similar behavior for the selected genotypes. G-7-88527 showed the higher amount of sugars. Based on the performance of tomato genotypes on selected stress tolerance indices, these genotypes may be used in breeding programs.