Kewalo tomato from University of Hawaii

Kewalo is a determinate tomato plant with uniform ripening. Fruits approx. 6-8 oz. Matures in 75-80 days. It is tolerant to bacterial wilt as well as tobacco mosaic virus. Resistant to the common root knot nematode, fusarium wilt, gray leaf spot and one strain of spotted wilt virus. Kewalo is one of the few open-pollinated variety that can boast of these traits.

Available from University of Hawaii: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/seed/seeds.asp#tomato

Tomato cultivars developed by UH-CTAHR horticulturists include the hybrids ‘N-5’, ‘N-52’, ‘N-63’, and ‘N-65’ and the open-pollinated cultivars ‘Anahu’, ‘Healani’, and ‘Kewalo’. The three nonhybrid cultivars are determinate — they grow to a certain height and then stop, and they tend to flower and set fruit within a relatively short period of time.

Anahu tomato was the first root knot nematode resistant variety. Kewalo tomato is considered the most important home garden variety due to bacterial wilt resistance combined with earliness. Kewalo seems to ignore hot weather.

Kewalo is a uniform ripening determinate variety bred at University of Hawaii by tomato breeder Dr. Jim Gilbert. Kewalo was named after one of his favorite fishing spots. Kewalo was bred to be resistant to bacterial wilt, mosaic virus and nematodes. 6-8 oz., red, round fruit with sweet flavor. A good choice for hot and humid climates.

References:

Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center - Seed Program http://bit.ly/1CbC16K
Home Garden Tomato http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/HGV-5.pdf
Honolulu Star-Bulletin Features http://bit.ly/1CbDNVs
Hawaiʻi Public Seed Initiative | Presentations | A program of The Kohala Center http://bit.ly/1CbEeiO
Overview of crop improvement projects in Hawaii (PDF, 1982) http://buff.ly/1ZyEH7r
Selecting tomatoes for the home garden in Hawaii (PDF) http://buff.ly/1LiBAad

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