Fresh Market Tomatoes Research Articles

A Review of Fresh Market Sweet Corn Production and Price Trends from 2010 to 2022

This publication provides information on conventional fresh market sweet corn acreage, volume, and pricing for the top four producing states: California, Florida, Georgia, and New York. (Other states produce a substantial amount of processed market sweet corn but are not the focus here.) This is one in a series of Ask IFAS publications focused on trends in Florida’s five most economically important specialty crops (excluding citrus): fresh market sweet corn, bell peppers, tomatoes, watermelons, and strawberries. This information will be useful to producers, Extension agents, and others interested in trends concerning specialty crop commodities. This publication serves as a unique source summarizing important information about the specialty crop market and production trends.

Flavour improvement in early generations of fresh market tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.): II. Response to breeders' sensory and marker‐assisted selection

Flavour improvement in early generations of fresh market tomatoes (<scp><i>Solanum lycopersicum</i></scp> L.): II. Response to breeders' sensory and marker‐assisted selection

An all-out assault on a dominant resistance gene: Local emergence, establishment, and spread of strains of tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV) that overcome Sw-5b-mediated resistance in fresh market and processing tomatoes in California.

Tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV) causes substantial economic loss to tomato production, and the Sw-5b resistance gene is widely deployed for management. Here, we show (i) the emergence of resistance-breaking (RB) TSWV strains in processing and fresh market tomato production in California over the past ten years, and (ii) evolutionary relationships with RB strains from other areas. A specific RT-PCR test was used to show the C118Y RB strain that emerged in Fresno County in 2016 quickly became predominant in the central production area and remained so through this study. In 2021, the C118Y strain was detected in the Northern production area, and was predominant in 2022. However, in 2023, the C118Y strain was unexpectedly detected in fewer spotted wilt samples from resistant varieties. This was due to emergence of the T120N RB strain, previously known to occur in Spain. A specific RT-PCR test was developed and used to show that the T120N RB strain was predominant in Colusa and Sutter counties (detected in 75-80% of samples), and detected in ~50% of samples from Yolo County. Pathogenicity tests confirmed California isolates of the T120N strain infected Sw-5b tomato varieties and induced severe symptoms. Another RB strain, C118F, was associated with spotted wilt samples of Sw-5 varieties from fresh market tomato production in southern California. Phylogenetic analyses with complete NSm sequences revealed that the C118Y and T120N RB strains infecting resistant processing tomato in California emerged locally, whereas those from fresh market production were more closely related to isolates from Mexico. Thus, widespread deployment of this single dominant resistance gene in California has driven the local emergence of multiple RB strains in different tomato production areas and types. These results further emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring for RB strains, and identification of sources of resistance to these strains.

Tomato Sorting System Based on Machine Vision

In the fresh tomato market, it is crucial to sort and sell tomatoes based on their quality. This is important to enhance the competitiveness and profitability of the market. However, the manual sorting process is subjective and inefficient. To address this issue, we have developed an automatic tomato sorting system that uses the Raspberry PI 4B as the control platform for the robot arm. This system has been integrated with a human–computer interaction interface sorting system. Our experimental results indicate that this sorting method has an accuracy rate of 99.1% and an efficiency of 1350 tomatoes per hour. This development is in line with modern agricultural mechanization and intelligence needs.

Qualitative Characteristics and Functional Properties of Cherry Tomato under Soilless Culture Depending on Rootstock Variety, Harvesting Time and Bunch Portion.

Tomato grafting is an effective practice in increasing the profitability of fresh-market tomato cultivation, especially in greenhouses, and is also considered a strategy for enhancing fruit quality. In this study, selected quanti-qualitative traits, and the of bioactive health-promoting compound and organic acid contents of cherry tomato fruits from three different scion/rootstock combinations (Sunstream/Top Bental, Sunstream/Kaiser and Sunstream/Suzuka) grown under a greenhouse hydroponic system were evaluated in three different harvests (beginning, middle and end of the whole harvesting period) and on three different bunch portions (proximal, central and distal). Although the tomato productive performance was influenced by the rootstock, with Suzuka and Kaiser grafted plants showing the highest total marketable yield (9.8 kg plant-1, i.e., 20% more than Top Bental), the yield-related traits (bunch number, weight and length per plant, and fruit number per bunch) and the qualitative characteristics of the fruits (color, equatorial and polar diameters, dry matter and solid soluble contents, pH and titratable acidity) showed less variability, by displaying, along with the bioactive compound contents (total polyphenols, lycopene, β-carotene), DPPH free radical scavenging activity and organic acids contents (lactic and acetic), a significant effect of the harvesting time and bunch portion. Fruits from the beginning of the harvesting period showed better qualitative and functional properties, with the lycopene and β-carotene contents equal to 178.6 and 3 mg 100 g-1 fw, and fruits from proximal and central bunch portions had lycopene and β-carotene contents equal to 203.1 and 2.9 mg 100 g-1 fw.

Flavour improvement in early generations of fresh market tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum): I. Identification of QTL for sensory attributes, physicochemical measurements and volatile compounds

AbstractHuman sensory analysis is the most appropriate method for assessing the flavour of fresh market tomatoes, but it is very labour and time consuming. Therefore, sensory attributes are often neglected in early generations of breeding programmes and genetic studies, although there is a demand for tomatoes with improved flavour. In this study, the recently developed Breeders' Sensory Test was applied to an F2 mapping population derived from two parents with superior flavour. Sensory attributes, physicochemical measurements, volatiles and fruit weight were assessed in organic low‐input and hydroponic cultivation. A linkage map spanning 1070 cM was developed. In total, 71 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected for the means of both cultivation systems, 61 for organic and 46 for hydroponic cultivation. A proportion of 27% of the loci were co‐localized between both cultivation systems. Nine distinct QTL clusters for flavour‐related traits were identified, including a large cluster on chromosome 6 comprising five sensory and nine volatile QTL. The sensory QTL on chromosomes 2, 5, 6, 10 and 11, partly within clusters, are recommended for marker‐assisted selection.

Identification of Resistance to Target Spot of Tomato Caused by Corynespora cassiicola in Wild Tomato Accessions

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an important vegetable crop and a valuable source of nutrients for the human diet. The southeast is the main fresh market tomato producer of the United States, with much of the production concentrated in Florida. However, production in this region is threatened by plant diseases such as target spot of tomato (TS) caused by Corynespora cassiicola, a multitrophic fungus widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas. TS can infect foliage and fruit, often resulting in significant yield losses in conductive environments. There are no known TS-resistant cultivars, and control relies entirely on fungicidal sprays. However, several studies have demonstrated that the fungus is developing resistance to commonly used fungicides which further complicates disease management. The objective of this work was to identify sources of resistance to TS from wild Solanum accessions. Initial screens of 83 accessions informed the selection of 24 accessions for a more robust screening in which six diverse C. cassiicola isolates were used for single-isolate inoculation experiments. The results from a broad-sense mixed-model analysis including data from all six experiments demonstrated that all 24 accessions had significantly lower disease severities compared with the susceptible controls, suggesting that all accessions potentially harbor resistance quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Solanum cheesmaniae accession LA0524, S. galapagense accessions LA0483 and LA0532, and S. pimpinellifolium accession LA2093 were among the most resistant accessions tested and may be particularly useful for introgression of resistance into cultivated germplasm and for mapping of TS resistance QTLs.

Chelated- and nano iron fertilization affects nutrient uptake and translocation in fresh market tomatoes

Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of nano and chelated Fe fertilization on nutrient and heavy metals uptake and their translocation from soil to root, stem, leaf, and fruits of fresh market tomatoes (Solanum Lycopersicon, cv. Sunbrite). A completely randomized design in a factorial experiment, with two Fe sources (nano vs. chelated) applied at 0 (control), 10, 20, and 40 mg/L via drip-irrigated plasticulture, was conducted. Nutrient and heavy metals concentrations in soil, water, tomato roots, stems, leaves, and fruits were determined. Soil had higher K, Fe, Ca, Mg, P, and Mn but lower Ni, Cd, and Cr concentrations. The P, K, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Na concentrations in the roots were significantly affected by both nano and chelated Fe fertilization; however, without following a consistent pattern. Averaged across the Fe treatments, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, and P that translocated from the soil were dominated in the roots, stems, and leaves. The nutrient translocation order, from roots to fruits in response to Fe fertilization, was nano Fe (40%) > chelated Fe (37%) > control (23%). Based on the treatment index values calculated across treatments, it is evident that Fe fertilization plays a pivotal role in nutrient uptake and translocation. The use of chelated Fe at a concentration of 20 mg/L had a pronounced effect on improving the nutritional quality of the tomatoes and, by extension, their associated public health benefits. In conclusion, the chelated Fe (20 mg/L) stands out as the most preferable and effective Fe fertilization for tomatoes.

RETRACTED: Biocontrol of Fusarium wilt in tomato by Trichoderma spp

Tomato is the most economically important vegetable crop in Florida where produces the most fresh-market tomatoes in the United States. Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL), is an important disease in tomato production in Florida, particularly due to lacking effective chemicals for soil treatment. Biological control is an alternative approach in the management of plant diseases, including those caused by soilborne pathogens. In this study, we evaluated two Trichoderma strains (T. atroviride T11 and T. asperellum T25) on their effects against FOL in vitro and in planta. T. asperellum T25 and its cultural filtrate showed inhibitory effects against mycelial growth of FOL in vitro and significantly reduced disease severity of Fusarium wilt in tomato in the greenhouse when T25 was mixed into soil at seeding. Although the mechanisms for biocontrol are still under investigation, results from this study indicate that T25 has great potential in the management of Fusarium wilt in tomato production.

Nano and chelated iron fertilization influences marketable yield, phytochemical properties, and antioxidant capacity of tomatoes.

Iron (Fe) is one of the limiting micronutrients essential for crop productivity. The goal of our study was to evaluate the effects of different sources and rates of Fe fertilization on the marketable yield, physical and chemical properties, and phytochemical quality of fresh market tomatoes (Solanum Lycopersicum L., cv. Sunbrite). A factorial experiment under a drip-irrigated plasticulture system was conducted in a completely randomized design with two sources of Fe (nano vs. chelated) and four rates of application (0, 10, 20, and 40 mg/L) with four replications. Results indicated that relative chlorophyll concentration in the leaf (SPAD index) increased significantly (by 24 to 27%) with 10 and 20 mg/L of both nano- and chelated Fe fertilization compared to the control. Increasing Fe fertilization decreased the leaf SPAD readings. The total fruit yield of tomato was 1.6 to 1.8 times higher under the chelated- and nano Fe fertilization and the increase in yield was significantly higher under the chelated Fe fertilization, when compared to the control. In contrast, the tomato harvest index was highest under 10 and 20 mg/L of nano Fe than under other Fe treatments. While the chelated Fe fertilized tomatoes had significantly higher concentrations of vitamin C (34%), ß-carotene (6%), total carotene (25%), flavonoid (17%), and polyphenol (66%), the nano Fe, in contrast, increased ß-carotene, total carotene, and polyphenol concentrations by 25, 33, 51, and 7%, respectively, compared to the control. The 20 mg/L chelated Fe significantly increased the vitamin C, total carotene, flavonoid, polyphenol concentration, and antioxidant capacity more than any other Fe treatments. Based on the principal components analyses, vitamin C, lycopene, and anthocyanin were identified as the core indicators of the tomato nutrition quality index (NQIndex). The NQIndex ranged from 47 to 54, falling within the medium level of nutritional quality (40 to <70). In conclusion, the chelated Fe, when applied at 20 mg/L, was the most appropriate rate based on highly correlated connectivity for the phytochemicals syntheses associated with the improved tomato antioxidant capacity.

Effects of Rootstock and Location on Open Field ‘BHN 589’ and ‘Nebraska Wedding’ Grafted Tomato Yield

Grafted tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production is popular, particularly in high tunnels, because grafted plants can mitigate soilborne disease incidence in highly infested soils and increase water and nutrient use efficiency and crop yield and quality. However, these potential benefits are not as well documented in open field production systems with less disease pressure. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of tomato grafting on fruit yield, number, and size across 2 years (2018 and 2019) and three diverse open-field production environments in Nebraska (Lincoln, North Platte, and Dwight). At each location, a scion from one of two determinant fresh market tomatoes, ‘Nebraska Wedding’ (heirloom) or ‘BHN 589’ (commercial hybrid), were grafted onto one of two rootstocks, ‘Estamino’ and ‘Maxifort,’ and the nongrafted scion cultivars were controls. In year 2, a fertilizer treatment was introduced (0 and 50 kg·ha−1 N). Ripe tomatoes were harvested weekly, sorted as marketable or cull, counted, and weighed fresh. No marketable or total yield benefits of grafting were observed in 2018 for any scion by rootstock combination across locations. Marketable yield of grafted plants was reduced by 32% in Lincoln. However, grafted ‘Nebraska Wedding’ plants (regardless of rootstock) in North Platte (with coarse-textured, lower organic matter soil) increased fruit number (but not yield) by 50% to 63%. In 2019, grafting ‘BHN 589’ to ‘Maxifort’ increased total tomato yield by 24% across all locations. The heirloom variety Nebraska Wedding did not benefit from grafting in 2019. ‘Estamino’ rootstock did not increase tomato yield, number, or size for either scion variety in either year. Nitrogen fertilizer increased yield as expected in 2019, but grafted plants did not perform better than nongrafted under reduced nitrogen fertility. Results from this study suggest that grafting is not consistently beneficial to ‘BHN 589’ and ‘Nebraska Wedding’ in open field production systems in Nebraska, particularly if there are no known soilborne disease issues.

Grafting Tomato to Manage Southern Blight, Prevent Yield Loss, and Increase Crop Value.

Southern blight, caused by the soilborne fungus Athelia rolfsii, has increased in frequency and severity in the southern United States since the use of methyl bromide fumigation ceased. The objective of this study was to evaluate three cultivars of sticky nightshade (Solanum sisymbriifolium), previously used as tomato rootstocks because of resistance to root-knot nematode, for resistance to southern blight. Field experiments in infested soil were done in Georgia in 2020 and 2021 and in South Carolina in 2021. Tomato cultivar Roadster was used as the scion. Control treatments included non-grafted Roadster in all experiments and self-grafted Roadster in Georgia. In all three experiments, all rootstocks significantly reduced incidence of southern blight and increased vigor ratings compared to control treatments (P ≤ 0.007). The rootstocks Maxifort, White Star, and SisSynII, but not Diamond, significantly increased marketable weight (P ≤ 0.02) and crop value (P < 0.05) compared to control treatments. In South Carolina only, because of greater yields than in Georgia, net returns with Maxifort and White Star were significantly greater than net return with non-grafted Roadster (P = 0.004). When the wholesale price for fresh market tomato is ≥$13/box, grafting may be an effective and economical management for southern blight.

Redesigning the tomato fruit shape for mechanized production.

Crop breeding for mechanized harvesting has driven modern agriculture. In tomato, machine harvesting for industrial processing varieties became the norm in the 1970s. However, fresh-market varieties whose fruits are suitable for mechanical harvesting are difficult to breed because of associated reduction in flavour and nutritional qualities. Here we report the cloning and functional characterization of fs8.1, which controls the elongated fruit shape and crush resistance of machine-harvestable processing tomatoes. FS8.1 encodes a non-canonical GT-2 factor that activates the expression of cell-cycle inhibitor genes through the formation of a transcriptional module with the canonical GT-2 factor SlGT-16. The fs8.1 mutation results in a lower inhibitory effect on the cell proliferation of the ovary wall, leading to elongated fruits with enhanced compression resistance. Our study provides a potential route for introducing the beneficial allele into fresh-market tomatoes without reducing quality, thereby facilitating mechanical harvesting.

Economic Analysis of Pruning Grafted Fresh-market Tomato Plants under Field Conditions in North Carolina

Grafted tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants have the potential to increase yield in the absence of soilborne disease; however, success is dependent on geographic location and rootstock–scion combination. Pruning axillary shoots on field-grown tomato plants is a standard practice for fresh-market production in the southeastern United States, although few studies have evaluated the effects of pruning grafted tomato plants. In this study, we evaluated six field grown tomato rootstock–scion combinations and their nongrafted counterparts, pruned or not pruned, over the course of 2 years at one location in North Carolina. Total yield, fruit size, variable cost of inputs, and net return data were analyzed. In both years of the study, cultivars Mountain Gem and Jolene had high yield of jumbo and extra-large fruit when grafted onto ‘Maxifort’ or ‘Beaufort’ rootstock. Yield was higher (P &lt; 0.0001) for plants that were grafted and not pruned compared with nongrafted pruned plants (grower standard). Net return from the treatment where plants were grafted onto ‘Maxifort’ rootstock and not pruned was greater than that from the grower standard practice, although this was not the case in both years of the study. The variable cost of growing grafted plants that were not pruned was always greater than that of the grower standard practice due to the greater cost of transplants and labor associated with harvest. The results from this study emphasize the importance of evaluating a small number of prospective rootstock–scion combinations on-farm and considering the balance between higher input costs of the grafted plants and potential increased yields before planting an entire field.

Impact of biochar amendments on soil water and plant uptake dynamics under different cropping systems

AbstractApplication of biochar amendments in agricultural systems has received much attention in recent years. In this study, we assess the 5‐year impacts of biochar application on soil water and plant interactions for an irrigated fresh market tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and a rainfed pasture (Poaceae) cropping system. In particular, we focus on three varieties of locally produced biochar from agricultural waste materials—almond shell, walnut shell, and almond pruning residues that are pyrolyzed using a mobile pyrolysis unit. We used the soil hydrological model HYDRUS‐1D to explicitly track seasonal and annual soil water fluxes through changes in water retention, drainage, evaporation, and plant water uptake under biochar application. Modeling results show that the application of biochar at 5% increased soil water availability within the top 20 cm for a rainfed system, irrespective of biochar amendment type. This is clearly indicative of higher plant water uptake and greater water use efficiency (WUE) under biochar application. In contrast, a similar biochar amendment for the irrigated system did not affect WUE, instead reducing seasonal soil evaporation loss and thereby reducing irrigation demand. In both cropping systems, year‐to‐year variability in precipitation significantly impacted the total amount of water saved under biochar application with certain amendments retaining more water than others. Given that biochar application increased water retention irrespective of cropping systems, we further used a simple approach to determine yield trade‐off, if any, between control and biochar treatments. Our economic balance clearly demonstrates that the water saved by amending soil with biochar does not offset the yield disparity if compensated with carbon credits and therefore, application of biochar should be actively considered for both its direct and indirect benefits to potential greenhouse gas mitigation (e.g., diverting orchard waste from open burning), water savings, and soil health.

Field performance of paper and plastic mulches for fresh market tomato production

ABSTRACT Plastic mulch is used for agricultural production to improve crop performance and mediate local environmental concerns. Paper mulch is an alternative to plastic mulch, it is effective and more biodegradable. The performance of plastic and paper mulch materials in agricultural production varies according to climatic environments, production practices, and crops. The objective of this study was to investigate the performance of paper mulch compared with plastic mulch and bare soil for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) field production in 2018 and 2021. Data on weed control, soil temperature, and tomato yield were recorded. Weed coverage and weeding time were reduced in paper and plastic mulch treatments compared to bare soil. Soil temperature in 2021 was lower in paper and plastic mulch treatments than in bare soil. Tomato yield was greater in plastic mulch than paper mulch and bare soil. Tomato yield for paper mulch treatments was not different from that of bare soil treatments. Paper mulch offered comparable weed control benefits as plastic mulch, and comparable tomato yield as bare soil.

Can Soil Cover Affect the Performance, Yield, and Quality of Creeping Fresh Market Tomato Hybrids?

Soil cover is a major factor in the cultivation of creeping tomatoes, especially for in natura consumption. This study aimed to determine the combination of a suitable tomato hybrid and soil cover, resulting in superior production performance and quality attributes of tomato fruits. Tomato hybrids (Fascínio and Thaíse) were cultivated on five soil cover types (uncovered soil, plastic mulch, sorghum, Sudan grass, and pearl millet). The data were submitted to a principal component analysis (PCA), considering all the variables, through Biplot graphical analysis. A Pearson correlation analysis was performed at the 5% significance level. For biomass production, pearl millet and Sudan grass were distinguished from the other soil covers, showing lower decomposition rates and, consequently, longer half-lives. Covering with plastic mulch provided higher total (111 t ha−1) and commercial (74.4 t ha−1) yields, regardless of the analyzed hybrid. According to the PCA, soil cover management influences the production and quality of tomato fruits, except for chemical and post-harvest characteristics, and maintains ideal levels for commercialization for all treatments. The Fascínio hybrid presented better production attributes, higher total and commercial fruit production per plant as well as fruits with larger sizes, especially when grown in plastic mulch cover. The Fascínio hybrid also presented fruits with higher levels of bioactive compounds (lycopene and β-carotene).

Mapping of quantitative trait loci for the nutritional value of fresh market tomato.

The incidence of many diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, is associated with malnutrition and an unbalanced daily diet. Vegetables are an important source of vitamins and essential compounds for human health. As a result, such metabolites have increasingly become the focus of breeding programs. Tomato is one of the most popular components of our daily diet. Therefore, the improvement of tomato's nutritional quality is an important goal. In the present study, we performed targeted metabolic profiling of an interspecific Solanum pimpinellifolium × S. lycopersicum inbred backcross line (IBL) population and identified quantitative trait loci responsible for the nutritional value of tomato. Transgressive segregation was apparent for many of the nutritional compounds such that some IBLs had extremely high levels of various amino acids and vitamins compared to their parents. A total of 117 QTLs for nutritional traits including 62 QTLs for amino acids, 18 QTLs for fatty acids, 12 QTLs for water-soluble vitamins, and 25 QTLs for fat-soluble vitamins were identified. Moreover, almost 24% of identified QTLs were confirmed in previous studies, and 40 possible gene candidates were found for 18 identified QTLs. These findings can help breeders to improve the nutritional value of tomato.

Reducing Powdery Mildew in High-tunnel Tomato Production in Oregon with Ultra Violet-C Lighting

Widespread outbreaks of tomato powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica and Oidium neolycopersici) are problematic in fresh market tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) crops in western Oregon, USA. In western Oregon, fresh market tomatoes are frequently grown in greenhouses or high tunnels where conditions can promote diseases such as powdery mildew. Heightened concerns about worker safety limit the pesticides available for use in enclosed systems. We studied the efficacy of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light applications under high-tunnel conditions compared with a standard fungicide program. Plants treated with UV-C had zero incidence of powdery mildew on all sample dates in the first trial. In trial 2, disease incidence was lower on UV-C treated plants than both grower standard and nontreated control early in the study while disease severity remained lower in UV-C than nontreated control and similar to grower standard treatment. Additional research is needed to optimize UV-C treatment intervals to minimize negative effects on plant growth and maximize powdery mildew control.

Genetic architecture of fresh-market tomato yield

BackgroundThe fresh-market tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is bred for direct consumption and is selected for a high yield of large fruits. To understand the genetic variations (distinct types of DNA sequence polymorphism) that influence the yield, we collected the phenotypic variations in the yields of total fruit, extra-large-sized fruit, small-sized fruit, or red-colored fruit from 68 core inbred contemporary U.S. fresh-market tomatoes for three consecutive years and the genomic information in 8,289,741 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) positions from the whole-genome resequencing of these tomatoes.ResultsGenome-wide association (GWA) mapping using the SNP data with or without SNP filtering steps using the regularization methods, validated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) linkage mapping, identified 18 significant association signals for traits evaluated. Among them, 10 of which were not located within genomic regions previously identified as being associated with fruit size/shape. When mapping-driven association signals [558 SNPs associated with 28 yield (component) traits] were used to calculate genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) of evaluated traits, the prediction accuracies of the extra-large-sized fruit and small-sized fruit yields were higher than those of the total and red-colored fruit yields, as we tested the generated breeding values in inbred tomatoes and F2 populations. Improved accuracy in GEBV calculation of evaluated traits was achieved by using 364 SNPs identified using the regularization methods.ConclusionsTogether, these results provide an understanding of the genetic variations underlying the heritable phenotypic variability in yield in contemporary tomato breeding and the information necessary for improving such economically important and complex quantitative trait through breeding.