In Mexico, tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivation is of great economic and social importance; however, the generation of innovative national varieties is limited. This research aimed to determine the agronomic potential and fruit quality of 29 F₅ tomato lines with indeterminate growth habit (IGH) and round fruit, for their possible commercial use and as a source of germplasm for breeding. The 29 lines and the commercial variety Caimán (used as a control) were evaluated in a hydroponic greenhouse system during two growing cycles (2020 and 2021), under a randomized complete block experimental design with three replications. Phenological data, physical and fruit quality traits, and total number and weight of fruits per plant were recorded. An analysis of variance, a comparison of means (Tukey, P ≤ 0.05) and a Pearson correlation analysis were performed. Significant differences were found among lines in days to flowering and ripening, length, diameter, weight, firmness, soluble solids content, and total number and weight of fruits. Outstanding lines were identified in earliness, yield and fruit quality, making them suitable for fresh consumption. Twenty-eight genotypes showed no significant differences in yield with respect to the control, while line 21136 outperformed it with a 34.9 % higher yield (P ≤ 0.05), suggesting its potential to be used as a commercial variety or as a source of germplasm in breeding programs.

The cost of highly soluble fertilizers has increased in recent years, impacting on the economic profitability of crops grown in greenhouse hydroponic systems. The aim was to evaluate water and macronutrient consumption in tomato plants, to compare the yield when using a nutrient solution made with low-cost, poorly soluble fertilizers versus a high-cost, highly soluble conventional formulation, and to compare the use of a conventional nutrient solution at different concentrations. An ‘El Cid’ tomato crop cycle of 85 days from transplanting to harvest was established. Two nutrient solution formulations (conventional and alternative) were tested at two concentrations (100 and 80 %). Morphological variables, dry matter weight, yield, and nutrient dynamics of N, P, K, Ca and Mg were evaluated. A randomized complete block design with six replications was used. Treatments with conventional formulations had higher yields than those managed with less soluble sources (2.12 vs. 1.62 kg∙plant^-1). The 80 % conventional formulation, with a yield of 2.11 kg∙plant-1, was the most cost-effective. To produce 1 kg of fruit, plants consumed 28.4 L of water and absorbed 1.58 g of N, 0.70 g of P, 3.17 g of K, 1.51 g of Ca and 0.60 g of Mg.