The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Crops Research Institute has received approval from the National Varietal Release and Registration Committee (NVRRC) of Ghana to release two improved varieties of tomato.
Announcing their success through social media, the institute said, the committee granted the approval after a filed visit to the Kwadaso research station for a final inspection of the tomato fields.
Tomato breeder and leader of the research team, Dr. Michael Kwabena Osei mentioned that the varieties, CRI-P005 and CRI-P068, are improved open- pollinated varieties with unique attributes such as early maturity, high yield, high brix as well as tolerance to early and late blight.
The varieties mature within 55 days and have potential yields of between 15-20 t/ha with a shelf life of between 18-26 days after harvesting.
This is the first open-pollinated tomato varietal release in Ghana.
