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Journals / Black Sea Journal of Agriculture / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 4

Interspecific Hybrid Compatibility and Seed Performance of Solanum lycopersicum × Solanum pimpinellifolium for Rootstock Breeding

Şeyma Yücel(ONDOKUZ MAYIS UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-7290-2749
Ahmet Balkaya(ONDOKUZ MAYIS ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ZİRAAT FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0001-9114-615X
Rıfat Üngör(GENETİKA Tohum)0009-0006-0846-4602
Pages
510–519
Publication Date
2026-07-15
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Overall, the results demonstrated that interspecific hybridization between S. lycopersicum and S. pimpinellifolium can produce viable hybrid seeds with high germination and emergence performance.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The use of grafted seedlings has become an important strategy in tomato production to overcome soil-borne diseases and various abiotic stresses.
📊
Key Findings & Data:This study aimed to determine the compatibility of interspecific hybridization between Solanum lycopersicum lines and wild S. pimpinellifolium genotypes and to evaluate the germination and seedling emergence performance of the resulting hybrid seeds.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Overall, the results demonstrated that interspecific hybridization between S. lycopersicum and S. pimpinellifolium can produce viable hybrid seeds with high germination and emergence performance.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:S. lycopersicum x S. pimpinellifolium · Hybrid compatibility · Seed traits

Abstract

The use of grafted seedlings has become an important strategy in tomato production to overcome soil-borne diseases and various abiotic stresses. In recent years, tomato relatives have gained attention as valuable genetic resources for rootstock breeding due to their resistance traits and wide genetic diversity. Among these species, Solanum pimpinellifolium has been considered a promising donor for improving stress tolerance, adaptability, and seed vigor in cultivated tomato. This study aimed to determine the compatibility of interspecific hybridization between Solanum lycopersicum lines and wild S. pimpinellifolium genotypes and to evaluate the germination and seedling emergence performance of the resulting hybrid seeds. Three S. lycopersicum lines were used as female parents and thirteen S. pimpinellifolium genotypes as male parents, resulting in 39 hybrid combinations. Hybridization success was evaluated based on fruit set rate, seed number per fruit, seed yield per fruit, and 100-seed weight. Additionally, germination and emergence tests were performed at two temperatures (24 and 27 °C) with three replicates of 30 seeds each. Germination percentage, emergence percentage, and time to 50% emergence were determined. The obtained data were analyzed using analysis of variance in the R statistical environment, and mean comparisons were performed using Duncan’s multiple range test (P<0.05). Fruit set rates among hybrid combinations ranged from 77% to 100%, indicating generally high cross-compatibility between the parental genotypes. Seed number per fruit varied between 54 and 109, while seed yield per fruit ranged from 0.199 g to 0.607 g. Germination percentages were generally high under both temperature conditions, ranging from 85.3% to 100.0% at 24 °C and from 77.3% to 100.0% at 27 °C. In general, increasing temperature shortened the time to 50% emergence and accelerated seedling development. Among the evaluated genotypes, RSP14, RSP16, and RSP18 stood out by maintaining high germination and seedling emergence rates regardless of the temperature increase. Overall, the results demonstrated that interspecific hybridization between S. lycopersicum and S. pimpinellifolium can produce viable hybrid seeds with high germination and emergence performance. The identified superior combinations may serve as valuable genetic materials for future tomato rootstock breeding programs.

Özet

The use of grafted seedlings has become an important strategy in tomato production to overcome soil-borne diseases and various abiotic stresses. In recent years, tomato relatives have gained attention as valuable genetic resources for rootstock breeding due to their resistance traits and wide genetic diversity. Among these species, Solanum pimpinellifolium has been considered a promising donor for improving stress tolerance, adaptability, and seed vigor in cultivated tomato. This study aimed to determine the compatibility of interspecific hybridization between Solanum lycopersicum lines and wild S. pimpinellifolium genotypes and to evaluate the germination and seedling emergence performance of the resulting hybrid seeds. Three S. lycopersicum lines were used as female parents and thirteen S. pimpinellifolium genotypes as male parents, resulting in 39 hybrid combinations. Hybridization success was evaluated based on fruit set rate, seed number per fruit, seed yield per fruit, and 100-seed weight. Additionally, germination and emergence tests were performed at two temperatures (24 and 27 °C) with three replicates of 30 seeds each. Germination percentage, emergence percentage, and time to 50% emergence were determined. The obtained data were analyzed using analysis of variance in the R statistical environment, and mean comparisons were performed using Duncan’s multiple range test (P<0.05). Fruit set rates among hybrid combinations ranged from 77% to 100%, indicating generally high cross-compatibility between the parental genotypes. Seed number per fruit varied between 54 and 109, while seed yield per fruit ranged from 0.199 g to 0.607 g. Germination percentages were generally high under both temperature conditions, ranging from 85.3% to 100.0% at 24 °C and from 77.3% to 100.0% at 27 °C. In general, increasing temperature shortened the time to 50% emergence and accelerated seedling development. Among the evaluated genotypes, RSP14, RSP16, and RSP18 stood out by maintaining high germination and seedling emergence rates regardless of the temperature increase. Overall, the results demonstrated that interspecific hybridization between S. lycopersicum and S. pimpinellifolium can produce viable hybrid seeds with high germination and emergence performance. The identified superior combinations may serve as valuable genetic materials for future tomato rootstock breeding programs.

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Cite This Article

Yücel, Ş., Balkaya, A., Üngör, R. (2026). Interspecific Hybrid Compatibility and Seed Performance of Solanum lycopersicum × Solanum pimpinellifolium for Rootstock Breeding. Black Sea Journal of Agriculture, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 4, 510–519. https://doi.org/10.47115/bsagriculture.1913914

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