A team of Bangladesh Agricultural University researchers has developed a new improved variant of Tomato named BAU Beefsteak Tomato-1.
The lead researcher Professor Atiqur Rahman of the university鈥檚 department of agricultural chemistry disclosed it on Saturday.
鈥樷�淏AU Beefsteak-1 Tomato鈥� is very delicious and sweet and its size is much larger than that of a normal tomato and its structure is also different,鈥� said Arif Hasan Khan Robin, professor of the department of cultivation and plant breeding.聽
About the naming of the variety, he said, tomatoes usually have two cells, but this special variety of tomato has many cells, which makes it unique. 鈥楽ince the cell structure looks a lot like beef, it has been named 鈥淏AU Beefsteak鈥�.鈥�
鈥楾he newly developed variant is almost twice as large as other tomatoes,鈥� he said.
About its production, Professor Atiqur Rahman said, 鈥樷�淏AU Beefsteak Tomato-1鈥潀 plant is 90 to 120cm tall and it produces relatively few bunches.鈥�
Regarding the characteristics of this variety, Atiqur Rahman said, 鈥業t does not get affected by insects, spiders and diseases. As a result, there is no need to use any harmful pesticides, which reduces the cost of production. The production technique is more environment friendly than other varieties.鈥�
鈥業t can be stored at normal temperature for 15 to 20 days without any kind of preservation method,鈥� he said, adding, 鈥業ts effective use of nutrients is very good. This variety is quite suitable for the climate and soil of Bangladesh and it can play an important role in the local agricultural system.鈥�
The research work started in 2019 and the variety was developed through hybridisation and selection method.
Later, Arif Hasan and Atiqur Rahman jointly supervised the research from 2022 onward for further improvement.
Meshkul Jannat Taj, a postgraduate student of the department of cultivation and plant breeding, worked on this variety for three years as part of his postgraduate research.
