Morpho-agronomic and biochemical diversity of the Tomata Valenciana landrace reveal key traits for its revalorisation and subtype differentiation

The Tomata Valenciana tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) landrace, valued for its local importance and unique organoleptic qualities, shows notable intra-varietal diversity. In this study, 46 accessions from three subtypes (‘Blanca’, ‘Masclet’, and ‘Intermitja’) were assessed using 57 morpho-agronomic and 15 biochemical descriptors. High phenotypic variation was observed, particularly in fruit morphology and agronomic traits. Features like fruit weight (FWH), locule number (LCN), and fruit tip formation (FTF) showed high heritability ( H 2 > 0.6). Principal Component Analysis clearly separated subtypes based on morphology: ‘Blanca’, which had larger, rounder fruits with lighter immature colour; ‘Masclet’, with darker green shoulders and pointed tips; and ‘Intermitja’, which showed intermediate traits and greater plant vigour. In contrast, biochemical traits displayed reduced variation among subtypes and low H 2 . These findings highlight the morphological and agronomic diversity of Tomata Valenciana, especially in fruit traits that are valuable for breeding and varietal authentication. The identification of stable, differentiating traits supports conservation efforts and legal recognition through quality labels. The unique profile of the ‘Intermitja’ subtype provides new insights into possible hybridization processes within landraces and their contribution to maintaining genetic diversity in traditional farming systems.