‘Sexy’ tomatoes gaining acceptance among farmers

In tinseltown, Ara, Assunta, Rica, and Rosanna have captured the moviegoers’ imagination because of their statuesque attributes, beauty, and acting abilities.

In another world – the agriculture world – these names are gradually but consistently becoming a by-word among vegetable growers.

Fact is, two hybrid tomatoes have been named Ara and Assunta while two open-pollinated ones bear the tags Rica and Rosanna.

The new varieties were developed by plant breeders of the UP Los Baños Institute of Plant Breeding (UPLB-IPB) headed by Director Disiree Hautea. The research team was composed of Dr. Josefina Narciso (leader), Conrado Balatero, and Julita Bituin.

The project was funded by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), currently headed by Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar.

Ara (codenamed XTH 6174) and Assunta (XTH 6137) have the potential yield of 30-50 tons per hectare. Rica (Tm L 95-12) can yield 10-30 t/ha during the wet season and 20-40 t/ha during the dry season. Rosanna (Tm L 95-03) has the potential of 10-30 t/ha during the wet season and 20-40 t/ha during the dry season.

Started in 1999, the BAR-funded research project will be completed this June.

The varieties have performed creditably in farmers’ fields, Dr. Narciso told this writer.

So far, the tomatoes have been tried by farmer-cooperators in Bukidnon (Malaybalay City, Valencia, and Dalwangan) and Leyte (Ormoc City).

In northern Mindanao, the IPB team reported, "Ara and Assunta are highly preferred by traders and growers because of their desirable fruit quality and high yield."

During the cropping seasons 2001-02 and 2004, Ara averaged 28.9 t/ha while Assunta yielded an average of 13.3 t/ha. Five farmers’ varieties also planted as control, except one, produced much less.

In on-farm trials in Ormoc City during the 2003-2004 wet season, Rica turned out 20.6 t/ha while Ara produced 15.3 t/ha.

"Rica is selected because of its desirable fruit size and shape and yield," the project team stated.

Other trials have been done in Nueva Viscaya and Zambales, where Assunta shone. Plans are afoot for the expansion of the trials in other areas.

Meanwhile, a new project that will introduce IPB varieties, including some of the "bold tomatoes", has been launched. Funded by the Department of Land Reform (DLR) and headed by IPB’s Dr. Rudy Navarro, the project aims to help farmers to become producers of their own vegetable seeds. – Rudy A. Fernandez