Overcoming seasonality in the tropics by growing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) varieties under cooled conditions
Affiliation(s)
Department of Horticulture, College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan. Agricultural Research Corporation, Gezira Research Station, Horticultural Research Center P.O Box 126 Wadmedani, Sudan.
Department of Horticulture, College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan. Agricultural Research Corporation, Gezira Research Station, Horticultural Research Center P.O Box 126 Wadmedani, Sudan.
ABSTRACT
The main objective of this work was to overcome seasonality in tomato production under hot tropical summer conditions, as well as to evaluate the adaptability and productivity of cherry and normal size indeterminate tomato varieties. The tested varieties were the standard varieties, Chanoa, Merel, Sensie and Yusra and the cherry varieties, Tomi and Elitrro. The cherry variety Elitrro recorded the highest plant height followed by the normal Merel. The cherry varieties over-numbered the classic varieties for mean number of fruits per cluster and mean number of fruits per meter square. There was no significant difference between the best yielders, the classic varieties Chanoa (25.63 kg/m2) and Yusra (24.13 kg/m2) and the cherry variety Elitrro (24.00 kg/m2). Yusra recorded the highest fruit diameter (60-70 mm). The classic type tomatoes are well known and of high demand in Sudan that give Chanoa and Yusra better adoption chances. Our results clearly indicated that production of summer tomato under cooled plastic house conditions is a new technique that has the potential to overcome the seasonality of tomato production under Sudan and similar tropical condition.
The main objective of this work was to overcome seasonality in tomato production under hot tropical summer conditions, as well as to evaluate the adaptability and productivity of cherry and normal size indeterminate tomato varieties. The tested varieties were the standard varieties, Chanoa, Merel, Sensie and Yusra and the cherry varieties, Tomi and Elitrro. The cherry variety Elitrro recorded the highest plant height followed by the normal Merel. The cherry varieties over-numbered the classic varieties for mean number of fruits per cluster and mean number of fruits per meter square. There was no significant difference between the best yielders, the classic varieties Chanoa (25.63 kg/m2) and Yusra (24.13 kg/m2) and the cherry variety Elitrro (24.00 kg/m2). Yusra recorded the highest fruit diameter (60-70 mm). The classic type tomatoes are well known and of high demand in Sudan that give Chanoa and Yusra better adoption chances. Our results clearly indicated that production of summer tomato under cooled plastic house conditions is a new technique that has the potential to overcome the seasonality of tomato production under Sudan and similar tropical condition.
Cite this paper
El-Amin, S. and Ali, R. (2012) Overcoming seasonality in the tropics by growing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) varieties under cooled conditions. Agricultural Sciences, 3, 602-607. doi: 10.4236/as.2012.34073.
El-Amin, S. and Ali, R. (2012) Overcoming seasonality in the tropics by growing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) varieties under cooled conditions. Agricultural Sciences, 3, 602-607. doi: 10.4236/as.2012.34073.
References
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[1] Warnock S.J. (1991) National habitats of lycopersicon species. Hortscienc, 26, 466-471. [2] Heuvelink, E. (2005) Tomatoes. Crop production science in Horticulture 13. Wageningen University, Wageningen. [3] Ahmed, M.K. (1994) Factors affecting productivity of vegetable crops in Sudan. In: integrated vegetable crop management in Sudan. ICIPE Science Press, Nairobi. [4] Abdalla, A.A. and Verkerk, K. (1970) Growth, flowering and fruit set of the tomato at high temperature. Neth. J. Agric. Sci, 16, 71-76. [5] Went, F.W. (1956) The experimental control of plant growth. Chrarica Botanic. [6] Walthaun, USA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_tomato [7] http://israelity.com/2010/10/03/a-ripe-tomato [8] Costa. M. and Heuvelink E. (2000) Greenhouse horticulture in Almeria (Spain). Report on a study tour Horticultural production Chains Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, 24-29 January 2000, 119. [9] Hassan, A.A. (1998) Tomato. Production technology and physiology and cultural practices, harvest and storage. Arabic Press House (Arabic). [10] Jensen, M.J. and Malter, A.J. (1995) Protected agriculture. A global review. The World Bank, Washington DC. [11] Portnee, J. (1996) Greenhouse vegetable production Guide. British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Abbots-ford. [12] Abdelmageed, A.H.A., Gruda, N. and Geyer, B. (2004) Effects of temperature and grafting on the growth and development of tomato plants under controlled conditions. Deutcher Tropertas 2004-pural poverty. [13] Elamin M. H. (2007) Crop water requirements of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under cooled plastic tunnels (M.Sc) Sudan Academy of Sciences, SAS- Agricultural Research Corporation. PP. 52. [14] Mohamed. B.M. (1995) Vegetable production in central Sudan. FAO/ARC/IPM Project, Sudan. [15] Peet, M. (2007) Tomato Botany. Sustainable practices for vegetable production in South. Crop Profiles-Tomato. http://www.cals [16] Hochmuth, G.J. (2007) Production of greenhouse tomatoes. Florida greenhouse vegetable production handbook. University of Florida, Gainesville