Abstract
The issue of low tomato production in the tropics like Ghana has been a long-standing challenge. The advent of greenhouse technology has not significantly improved the yield of tomato compared to Japan and the Netherlands. Immediate technological interventions are needed. Through hydroponics, the low-node order pinching at a high-density planting system has been recommended in some studies. This system was intended to be established in Ghana, and it would be expected to improve the yield and fruit quality of tomato. In effect, a study was carried out in the greenhouse, at Chiba University using this system. A tropical tomato cultivar (Jaguar) was evaluated with Momotaro York at 3.8 m s2 and pinched at the fourth truss. Data collected were water and nutrient use efficiencies, plant growth rate, dry matter partitioning, and fruit yield and quality, as well as some physiological characteristics. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that Jaguar cultivar was two times more efficient in water and nutrient use than Momotaro York at first harvest. Root tissue density recorded in Jaguar was significantly lower compared to Momotaro York. The net assimilation rate (NAR) recorded was markedly higher in Jaguar than Momotaro York at last harvest. All the physiological attributes recorded in both cultivars were not significantly different. Plant dry mass (DM) recorded was similar in the two cultivars; however, the DM partitioned to fruits was 55% in Jaguar compared to 46.5% DM for Momotaro York. Fruit yield per area did not differ in the two cultivars. Fruit yields of 28.8 and 30 kg m−2 per year were recorded in Jaguar and Momotaro York, respectively. In comparison, this yield result is 1.2–1.25 times less and 14.4–15 times higher than current tomato yields recorded in Japan (greenhouse) and Ghana, respectively. Fruit quality, in terms of total soluble solids recorded in Jaguar cultivar being 5.4 %Brix, was within the 3.5–5.6 %Brix recorded in Ghana. This system could effectively enhance the yield and quality of tomato in the tropics as well as economising on the use of resources.
Highlights
56 days after transplanting (DAT) that Momotaro plants grew significantly taller than Jaguar (Table 1a)
Momotaro York plants significantly produced thicker stems than Jaguar (Table 1b)
Titratable acidity and total soluble solids (TSS)/titratable acidity (TA) ratio were similar in both cultivars
Summary
Association [1] reported that the country is the highest consumer of the product in Africa. It was further indicated that 90% of tomato produced in Burkina Faso (a neighbouring country) is consumed in. The production volume in Ghana remains low with an annual yield of 8.6 t ha−1 [2]. In 2014, some greenhouse facilities (tropically customized) were introduced into the country to boost tomato production sustainably. Tomato production output has not yet improved significantly in comparison to Japan and the Netherlands. This is an indication that the appropriate cultivation systems at cost-effective levels have not so far been adopted
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