Fruits in the ripe red stage of thirty three tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) accessions from CCA-UFES germplasm collection, being 15 "Cherry type" and 18 "Salad type", were characterized based on the following morphooagronomic descriptors: average fruit weight; average fruit length; average fruit diameter; peduncle scar diameter; fruit mesocarp thickness; soluble solids and fruit pH. Based on the data from the soluble solids and fruit pH, the flavor variable was calculated by the ratio TSS/pH². Variance analysis and simple and partial correlations were calculated, and the accessions were clustered in flavor classes. Based on the statistical model of distribution of frequencies, four classes were formed for flavor variable. The largest portion (33%) of the accessions of salad type were located in the lowest class (0.05-0.12 ºBrix.pH-2), corresponding to the accessions with not so desirable a flavor, while the largest portion (30%) of the accessions of the "cherry" type were clustered in the next class above (0.13-0.20 ºBrix.pH-2). The possibility of concomitantly obtaining genetic gains for flavor, weight, length and mesocarp thickness of the fruits was demonstrated.
Lycopersicon esculentum; genetic gain; soluble solids; germplasm
