Abstract
Husk tomato (Physalis philadelphica Lam.) a source of functional food and medicinal compounds, has attracted renewed interest for production in temperate zones. Field-grown husk tomato yield and fruit properties and their relationship with soil chemistry and temperature were studied in the south of West Siberia, Russia, at five experimental sites. At each site, a microplot experiment with two cultivars was conducted. Basic soil chemical properties and fruit pH and dry matter, total carbon, nitrogen, and ascorbic acid content were determined. Both cultivars grew and yielded very well, producing on average 70 fruits, or 1.46 kg, per plant, with 14 mg ascorbic acid per 100 g fresh weight, 9.0% dry matter, and juice pH of 4.1. Variation in environmental conditions among sites was the major factor determining production and fruit property variation, with cultivar biology accounting for 10%. The cultivars responded differently to some soil properties, but generally their yield and fruit quality depended on soil pH and labile phosphorous and potassium. Thus, husk tomato has remarkable capacity for vigorous yields in unprotected conditions in West Siberia, despite air and soil temperatures that are much lower than in its region of origin. Detailed studies are needed to elucidate its response to varying solar radiation and atmospheric precipitation.
Highlights
Husk tomato (Physalis philadelphica Lam.), known as Mexican husk tomato, or tomatillo, is the most widely distributed species of Physalis
Industrial production was started in the country in the Far East, where several thousands of hectares were occupied by husk tomato in the 1950s [14]
Commercial husk tomato varieties grown in an open field experiment yielded 5.6–6.4 kg/m2 in New Hampshire, U.S.A. [25]; 1.1–1.9 kg/per plant in Georgia, U.S.A. [26]; 1.1–2.6 kg/per plant in Mexico [27]; and 1.8 kg/per plant in the European part of Russia [28]
Summary
Husk tomato (Physalis philadelphica Lam. (synonymic Physalis ixocarpa Brot.)), known as Mexican husk tomato, or tomatillo, is the most widely distributed species of Physalis. (synonymic Physalis ixocarpa Brot.)), known as Mexican husk tomato, or tomatillo, is the most widely distributed species of Physalis. Over the last few decades in Russia, the crop has been grown only by small farmers and individual gardeners; the last century saw quite a lot of attention paid to husk tomato. It was introduced into Russia in 1926, and was vigorously studied between 1920 and the 1950s [12], when field experiments were set up at experimental stations throughout the entire country [13]. Industrial production was started in the country in the Far East, where several thousands of hectares were occupied by husk tomato in the 1950s [14]
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