Characterization of a wide collection of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) for morphological, phenological, quality traits and resistance traits

In tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.), genome-wide association studies have beendemonstrated to be efficient in detecting the genetic bases of simple and complex traits. Yet, thelow genetic variation of this self-pollinating crop might be limiting for this approach to be efficient.In this context, wild relatives and landrace varieties represent valuable sources of diversity that canbe deployed in breeding programs.Phenotyping is a crucial step in these studies and often represents a bottleneck because it canbe challenging, costly and sometimes requires complex or time-consuming techniques. Here, wehave phenotyped for relevant agronomic and adaptive traits 128 genotypes including 64 Sardinianlandraces, seven Italian landraces, 44 landraces from different regions all over the world, tenvintage and modern cultivars and three wild-related tomato species. We have also analysed apopulation of 56 introgression lines (ILs) obtained from the cross between the cultivar E6206 andLA1777 (an accession of the wild tomato species L. hirsutum).We have performed three experimental trials (one under field condition and two in aglasshouse) in two years and two different locations to characterise the collection considering threemain sets of traits: a) morpho-phenological qualitative and quantitative traits by both classic andprecision phenotyping, b) carotenoid content and c) antixenotic resistance to the tomato leafminerTuta absoluta (Meyrick)(Lepidoptera: Gelichiidae).Statistical analyses revealed significant differences among genotypes and environments andthe existence of genotype x environment interaction. Overall, high levels of diversity emergedindicating that our collection is suitable for future association mapping and transcriptomecorrelation studies in addition to breeding purposes.