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.
Beyond its contribution to pest regulation and despite contrasting effects on plant traits throughout development, OSR-FB companion planting demonstrated agronomic viability by promoting OSR adaptive responses that maintained productivity under field conditions.
Laurie Magnin, I. Hiltpold, Alice Baux et al.· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
In Mexico, the predominant commercial Solanum lycopersicum L. varieties are red. Nevertheless, materials with alternative pigmentations can serve as a source of genetic variation for the expression of diverse fruit colors while providing nutraceutical properties of interest. The aim of this study was to determine the agronomic performance of hybrids derived from nine contrasting parents with different fruit shapes, colors, and indeterminate growth habits, as well as their direct crosses, for agronomic, color, and fruit quality traits in order to select outstanding genotypes. Twenty crosses were obtained by combining four elite red female parents with five male color donors. The experiment was established under a randomized complete block design with four replications and 10 plants per experimental unit. Yield components, fruit quality, and color characteristics were evaluated. The agronomic performance of the crosses and parents was estimated, along with mean heterosis, high-parent heterosis, and type of gene action. Significant differences among crosses were detected for all evaluated variables, except for the color component b*. Crosses involving the pink parent showed higher values for yield components, whereas crosses involving orange parents exhibited better fruit quality. Phenotypic values among parents were significant for total fruit weight (TFW), total number of fruits (TNF), days to flowering (DF), days to maturity (DM), and the color variables L*, a*, and b*. Mean heterosis reached values of up to 94.5 %, indicating average effects of partial dominance and dominance toward the male parent.
Mitzy Tiare Arenas-Santos, S. Cruz-Izquierdo, R. Lobato‐Ortiz et al.· Agrociencia· 0 citations
Water scarcity is a critical constraint for agricultural production, particularly in Mediterranean regions, since it is a key stressor directly affecting plant growth, yield, and fruit quality in vegetables. Among others, cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) represents a high-value crop with increasing global importance due to its economic, nutritional, and commercial attributes. The objective of this research is to evaluate the seasonal (autumn and spring) effects of reduced irrigation volumes relative to commercial practice on the yield, fruit quality, water-use efficiency (WUE), and physiological responses of cherry tomato plants grown under greenhouse conditions. Plants were irrigated according to growers’ standard practices (100%), as well as 75% and 50% of that water volume, throughout a cultivation cycle of 11 months (August to July). Results indicate strong seasonal variation in quality and physiological parameters (+35.3% single fruit fresh weight and +34.2% flesh firmness, but −68.2% total phenolic compounds content and −38.5% total antioxidant capacity during late autumn assessment). A 50% irrigation level reduction significantly improved water-use efficiency (+82.7%), but reduced single fruit fresh weight (−22.9%) and showed a declining trend in total yield. We conclude that local irrigation practices should be reconsidered in regions highly affected by water scarcity and suggest that the 75% treatment has a practical potential.
Anna Gkotzamani, F. Bantis, E. Papoui et al.· Agronomy· 0 citations
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important vegetable crop valued for its nutritional quality, wide adaptability and economic significance. The present study was conducted to evaluate genetic variability, character association and genetic diversity among tomato accessions for yield and its contributing traits. The experiment was carried out during the spring-summer season of 2020 and 2021 at the experimental field of horticulture, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University. A total of 26 tomato accessions, comprising 6 repatriated genotypes and 20 hybrids developed through a full diallel mating design, were evaluated in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications and 15 quantitative and quality-related characters. Significant variation was found among the different germplasms for all characters. Yield and yield contributing characters showed high heritability along with genetic gain, indicating major role of these characters in expression of these characters. Yield per plant exhibited a strong and positive relationship with number of fruits per plant, fruit width, fruit length and mean fruit weight. Path coefficient analysis indicated that the number of fruits per plant and reducing sugar content exerted the highest positive direct influence on yield. Principal component analysis explained 81.70 % of the total variation through five components. Cluster analysis grouped accessions into two major clusters irrespective of geographic origin, indicating wide genetic diversity. Accessions T10 and F1022 were identified as the most divergent and may serve as promising parents for yield improvement in tomato breeding programs.
S. Vinit, K. Khushboo, T. Nikhil et al.· Plant Science Today· 0 citations