Yield performance and nutritional quality of tomato hybrids in response to protected environments during the Amazonian summer

• Published in: Advances in horticultural science Vol. 37; no. 4; pp. 391 - 402
• Main Authors: Pataraico, V, Fernandes, F, Zanuzo, M. Roggia, Campos, R.A. da Silva, Ponce, F. da Silva, Botelho, S. de Carvalho Campos, Silva, I. Vieira da, Antunes, D.T, Nascimento, M.S. Pereira do, Seabra, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Florence Firenze University Press 01.12.2023; Firenze University Press Università degli Studi di Firenze
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Carotene; Carotenoids; Crop production; Crop yields; Crops; Cultivation; Environmental protection; Fruit; Fruit cultivation; fruit production; Fruits; Growing season; Hybrids; Lycopene; Nutritive value; Performance evaluation; physicochemical properties; Plant protection; Polycarbonate; Polycarbonates; protected cultivation; Quality management; Rain and rainfall; Rainfall; Ripening; Solanum lycopersicum L; Summer; Temperature tolerance; Tomatoes; Tropical environment; Tropical environments; Truck drivers; Truck driving; Vegetable industry; β-Carotene; Brazil
• ISSN: 0394-6169; 1592-1573
• DOI: 10.36253/ahsc-13558

This study evaluated the yield performance of the tomato hybrids 'DS0060', 'Thaise' and 'Trucker' in the open field and environments protected by agricultural film (F) and polycarbonate panels (P) during the Amazonian summer. In the protected environment, the crops produced significantly higher yields than in the open field. 'Thaise' has high thermotolerance and is adaptable to a wide temperature range, making it the best-performing hybrid in environment F. Highest yields were found for 'Thaise' in environment F or P (86.2 and 92.5 t ha-1) together with 'DS0060' and 'Trucker' in environment F (75.3 and 88.2 t ha-1), demonstrating the high yield potential in the interim growing season (January to April). In the open field, the fruit color was paler, fruit flesh firmer and ripening index lower. In environment F, the fruits contained highest levels of soluble solids, lycopene and β-carotene. 'Thaise' contained higher concentrations of these two compounds. Under environment P, the yield of the evaluated tomato hybrids increased considerably, indicating it as a promising possibility for tomato cultivation in tropical regions. 'Thaíse' stood out with high yield and good quality traits, when grown in an F or P environment. These results prove the viability of tomato production as interim crop in tropical regions, under high rainfall and heat, as well as the difference protected environments make for tomato cultivation, in particular the choice of the most suitable cover material for the crop, to ensure high yields coupled with desirable quality properties.