Trait-based Screening of Cherry Tomato Germplasm for Adaptation to Hydroponic Controlled Environment Agriculture

Abstract

California is among the leading states in the United States for tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) production, and the application of hydroponic systems has had a positive effect on tomato yield under a controlled environment while addressing water scarcity challenges. For the fresh market, cherry-type tomatoes are valued for their small size and intense flavor. The focus of targeted breeding programs aimed at improving traits in cherry type tomatoes for fruit quality, increased levels of secondary metabolites, and adaptability to various growing conditions including field and greenhouses. Additionally, physiological disorders like blossom end rot and fruit cracking continue to pose significant challenges to fruit quality in controlled environment agriculture, leading to economic losses. Enhancing fruit quality in tomato production requires investigating genotype and genotype × environmental interaction by screening tomato breeding lines under greenhouse conditions. Five F 3 cherry-type tomato lines were evaluated for their performance in a greenhouse hydroponic system. These lines were compared with a commercial line for traits including yield, fruit color, fruit size, fruit cracking and blossom end rot, as well as plant health metrics such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Chlorophyll Content Index in the hydroponic system. Statistical analysis of the collected data revealed significant differences ( P < 0.05) among lines for yield, fruit size, and susceptibility to blossom end rot. These findings suggest the presence of promising genetic variation among the tested lines, indicating their potential contribution to breeding efforts aimed at improving fruit quality and adaptability to hydroponic cultivation systems.