The hybrid Lycopersicon esculentum x Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium f. galapagos - source of high beta-carotenes and lycopene content in the fruits Vulkova, Z., Chalukova, M. and Baralieva, D. Acad. Doncho Kostoff Institute of Genetics, BAS, Sofia 1113 BULGARIA The gene B/B+, related to the synthesis of beta-carotene/lycopene, is located in chromosome 6 and is linked to the gene for or indeterminate/determinant stem - sp+/sp. The crossing-over between the two genes according to Rick (1956) is approximately 1%. As far as we know, the first determinant beta-orange variety is Carobeta with beta-carotene content around 3.5 mg% (Georgiev et al., 1981). The species L. pimpinellifolium f. galapagos LA 430 was used as a donor of the dominant allele B. It was crossed with six determinant varieties of L. esculentum (Drujba, Caroline, Jackipot, Marcury, Luisiana, MH1) with high lycopene content. The determinant beta carotene and lycopene plants selected in F2 were included in introgressive hybridization with determinant varieties of L. esculentum. These introgressive crosses were carried out until BC4-BC6. Average samples from the parental species, F1 and consolidated lines, as well as individual plants from the segregating progenies were biochemically analyzed for beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamin C and dry matter content. The data for the quantity of different components were calculated in percentage of the fresh matter. The progenies of the hybrids Caroline x L. pimpinellifolium f. galapagos and Mercury x L. pimpinellifolium f. galapagos initiated several beta-carotene and lycopene lines with high values of the beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamin C and dry matter. As a result a beta-carotene line (Paco-orange) and a lycopene one (LIC -10) were obtained (see table), with the botanical and economic characteristics of L. esculentum. The fruits of both (Paco- orange and the LIC-10) lines were ovally-flat, uniform in size, with average weight respectively 91 g and 75.75g (coefficients of variation 12.80 and 14.24).   Literature cited Rick C. 1959. Genetics and systematic studies on accession of Lycopersicon from the Galapagos islands. Am.J.Bot.43:686-696. Georgiev H., Vulkova Z., Baralieva D. 1981. Breeding determinant tomatoes with beta-carotene content. Grad. Loz. Nauka (Bulgaria) 18:28-31.

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