Processing tomato hybrids cultivation in protected environment and in openfield

Abstract

Yield capacity and fruit quality of five processing tomato hybrids (‘AP 529’, ‘AP 533’, ‘Malinta’, ‘Heinz 9992’, and ‘Rio Brazil’), cultivated in protected environment and in open field, for fresh fruit market, were studied. The experiment was conducted from March to August of 2004, on the Teaching, Research and Extension Farm of the University of the State of São Paulo (UNESP), Campus of Ilha Solteira, state of São Paulo, Brazil. It was observed a longer period of plant survival, as well as a greater number of fruits per unit of area, in particular for that classified as medium and small size, in protected environment cultivation. Total yield was not significantly different when both conditions were compared, but the open field cultivation conducted to greater yield of fruits of large size class and fruits with heavier fresh weight. In relation to the hybrids, the yields varied from 80.6 to 0.8 metric ton ha^-, the best performances shown by ‘AP 529’ and ‘AP 533’, which reached yields above 97.0 metric ton.ha^-. It was also verified that both for environments and hybrids the determined values of pH, quantifiable acidity, total soluble solids (TSS) content and ratio were within standard values for fruits to be consumed in natura. The tomato hybrids AP 533 and AP 529 were more apt for fresh fruit market production cultivated either in open field or in protected environment. Additional keywords: Lycopersicon esculentum Mill; protected cultivation; fruit quality; cultivation system.