Tomato Fruit Production Research Articles

Modelos não-lineares para a estimativa da produção de tomate do tipo cereja

RESUMO: Os objetivos do trabalho foram ajustar modelos de regressão não-linear para a estimativa da produção de frutos de tomate tipo cereja e identificar o tamanho da parcela com melhor poder de explicação e ajuste dos modelos, utilizando dois ensaios de uniformidade em estufa plástica. Os modelos ajustados foram o logístico e o de von Bertalanffy, para peso médio de frutos, número médio de frutos e de cachos acumulado nas múltiplas colheitas e com diferentes tamanhos de parcela. Os modelos apresentaram estimativas semelhantes entre si e as mesmas estimativas dos parâmetros em todos os casos de tamanho de parcela. Os modelos de regressão não-linear estudados descrevem satisfatoriamente o comportamento da produção de frutos de tomate tipo cereja cultivado em estufa plástica. Parcela constituída de duas plantas para ensaios em estufa plástica de 250m2 e de três plantas em estufa plástica de 200m2 proporcionam bom poder de explicação nas estimativas dos parâmetros dos modelos.

Effect of soilless growing media, biofertilizers and fertigation levels on greenhouse tomato production

Tomato is an important cash crop of the vegetable growers in mid hill region of the Himachal Pradesh in India. Mainly the crop is raised during rainy season and the produce fetches offseason prices because of non availability of tomatoes in the markets of neighboring states which are comparatively plain areas and are not fit for growing tomatoes during rainy season. But the outdoor production of tomato faces many biotic and abiotic hurdles due to the coincidence of monsoon season with tomato fruit production. Major constraint is high rainfall coupled with high relative humidity favoring occurrence of many diseases and insect-pest attack which severely reduces the productivity and quality of the tomato fruits and growers do not get premium prices for their produce in spite of offseasonality. Hence, the only viable alternative is to grow tomato under protected conditions. The climate of the mid hills also favours for its cost effective production due to the use of low cost plastic greenhouses with natural ventilation. Therefore, a study was conducted to standardize different soil less and soil based growing media along with biofertilizers and fertigation levels for growing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv NAVEEN 2K+) in plastic greenhouses for higher productivity per unit area and superior quality of the produce during 2008 and 2009. The results comparing different treatment combinations, gave useful indication on the possibility of increasing yield, quality and component traits and decreasing occurrence of soil born diseases by using soil less growing media (Vermicompost: sand; 2:1) along with seedling treatment of Azotobacter and fertigation dose of 300 kg NPK per ha.

Seeded and Parthenocarpic Cherry Tomato Fruits Exhibit Similar Sucrose, Glucose, and Fructose Levels, Despite Dissimilarities in UGPase and SPS Gene Expression and Enzyme Activity

Farmers often resort to the production of auxin-induced parthenocarpic tomato fruits to overcome the adverse climatic conditions which are unfavorable for sufficient fertilization and to lengthen the production period. Even though this practice improves the out-of-season yield, it often undermines fruit quality. In the current study, we examined the effect of induced parthenocarpy in cherry tomato cv. Conchita on the concentration of the main sugars, and on the expression, the activity and the localization of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPase) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), enzymes that are actively involved in sucrose metabolism. Minor differences were detected in sugar levels of seeded and parthenocarpic fruits, whereas considerable variances were found in transcript accumulation and enzyme activities of both UGPase and SPS. Moreover, both proteins were present in the developing seeds. Our data indicate that although induced parthenocarpy significantly influences sucrose metabolism, it has a negligible effect on sugar levels.

A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR TOMATO GROWERS BASED ON PLANT RESPONSES AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION

ISHS International Symposium on New Technologies for Environment Control, Energy-Saving and Crop Production in Greenhouse and Plant Factory - Greensys 2013 A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR TOMATO GROWERS BASED ON PLANT RESPONSES AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Supplemental Lighting Orientation and Red-to-blue Ratio of Light-emitting Diodes for Greenhouse Tomato Production

Current greenhouse supplemental lighting technology uses broad-spectrum high-pressure sodium lamps (HPS) that, despite being an excellent luminous source, are not the most efficient light source for plant production. Specific light frequencies in the 400- to 700-nm range have been shown to affect photosynthesis more directly than other wavelengths (especially in the red and blue ranges). Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) could diminish lighting costs as a result of their high efficiency, lower operating temperatures, and wavelength specificity. LEDs can be selected to target the wavelengths used by plants, enabling growers to customize the light produced, to enable maximum plant production and limit wavelengths that do not significantly impact plant growth. In our experiment, hydroponically grown tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were grown using a full factorial design with three light intensities (high: 135 μmol·m−2·s−1, medium: 115 μmol·m−2·s−1, and low: 100 μmol·m−2·s−1) at three red (661 nm) to blue (449 nm) ratio levels (5:1, 10:1, and 19:1). Secondary treatments for comparison were 100% HPS, 100% red LED light supplied from above the plant, 100% red LED light supplied below the plant, a 50%:50% LED:HPS mixture, and a control (no supplemental lighting). Both runs of the experiment lasted 120 days during the Summer–Fall 2011 and the Winter–Spring 2011–12. The highest biomass production (excluding fruit) occurred with the 19:1 ratio (red to blue) with increasing intensity resulting in more growth, whereas a higher fruit production was obtained using the 5:1 ratio. The highest marketable fruit production (fruit over 90 g) was obtained with the 50%:50% LED:HPS followed by 5:1 high and 19:1 high. Consistently the 5:1 high performed well in every category. LEDs have been shown to be superior in fruit production over HPS alone, and LEDs can improve tomato fruit production when mixed with HPS. LEDs provide a promising mechanism to enhance greenhouse artificial lighting systems.

Tomato production in function of sulfur doses application

A importância do enxofre (S) já foi constatada para diversas culturas, sobretudo nos aspectos de produção, entretanto pode ser um fator limitante da produtividade devido ao sistema intensivo de cultivo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a aplicação de S no desenvolvimento e produtividade do tomateiro. Foi conduzido um experimento em casa de vegetação, em vasos de 4 kg de solo, em Guarapuava-PR. O experimento foi instalado em blocos inteiramente casualizados sendo 6 doses de S (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 e 100 mg kg -1 ) na forma de gesso agrícola e 3 repetições. Nos vasos foram transplantadas uma muda de tomate (variedade Abiru), cultivadas por 115 dias. Os frutos foram colhidos, lavados e pesados e a parte aérea foi colhida, pesada e analisada em relação ao teor de carbono, nitrogênio e enxofre. A produção de frutos de tomate aumentaram em função das doses de S, sendo obtido aumento de 23 a 34%. A massa seca da parte aérea, teor e acumulo aumentaram em função das doses de S aplicadas ao solo. A relação C/S e N/S diminuiu na parte aérea do tomateiro em função das doses de S, com valores variando de 92 a 144 para C/S e de 2,1 a 3,1 para N/S. A relação média de C:N:S encontrada na parte aérea do tomate foi de 112:2,4:1. A relação N/S de 2,36 na parte aérea foi a que representou equilíbrio entre esses nutrientes na obtenção da produtividade do tomateiro.

Growth analysis and yield of tomato crop under different irrigation depths

The influence of irrigation depth was evaluated on tomato crop hybrid Debora plus for salad in a field experiment in split-block design with five treatments (irrigation depth of 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120% of crop evapotranspiration - ETc) and four replications. During the experiment, ten plant samples were collected to determine phytomass and leaf area to estimate plant growth parameters for different depths of irrigation. Results showed maximal growth between 70 and 80 days after transplanting in all treatments. Increase in irrigation depth above 80% of ETc increased crop growth rate (CGR), leaf area index (LAI) and total production of tomato fruits, although same commercial fruit yield was obtained with the lower depths. Therefore, an increase in depth of irrigation above 80% of ETc promotes higher water and energy consumption, without providing an increase in commercial yield of tomato fruits.

A Fogging System Improves Antioxidative Defense Responses and Productivity in Tomato

Crops cultivated during summer in greenhouses and screen-covered structures (screenhouses) are negatively affected by stressful temperatures and vapor pressure deficit (VPD), which in turn influence yield and product quality. Fogging systems have been proposed as cooling methods to mitigate the adverse effects of high evaporation and excess temperatures in greenhouses. To evaluate the possible action of the fogging system on antioxidant response in cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit production, we studied the behavior of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, enzymes involved in the ascorbate-glutathione cycle (Halliwell-Asada cycle), and compounds with antioxidant functions such as ascorbate, glutathione, proline, and polyamines. Fogging-screenhouse treatments, SF (a fogging system inside the screenhouse) and SFS (fogging system with a plastic sheeting, to maintain the microclimate created by the fogging system in the screenhouse) showed the best performance in terms of radiation with a percentage reduction of incident radiation on the crop of 18% and 37% and a mean reduction of maximum VPD values of 0.4 and 0.2 kPa, respectively, compared with the unfogging treatment (S). These improved environmental conditions, besides promoting the highest activities of ROS-scavenging enzymes and Halliwell-Asada cycle, the redox state of the ascorbate, and a low proline:free putrescine ratio, would explain the increase in commercial weight of fruit by 21% and 17% in SF and SFS, respectively, with respect to S.

Influences of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer rates on pepper and tomato yield and nutrient uptake under field conditions

The influence of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilizers on pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) growth, fruit production and nutrient uptake was determined under field conditions for two successive years. The aim of the experiment was to determine the optimum N and K fertilizer rate for yield and quality parameters. Experiments were carried out during the two consecutive growing seasons of 1997-1998 at the Agricultural Research Station of Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey. A split plot design with three replications was used with each block containing three treatments 0, 100 and 200 Kg ha-1 of N and K2O. Nitrogen was used as NH4NO3 and K used as K2SO4. Results revealed that the pepper and tomato plants have responded significantly (P< 0.001) to the nitrogen fertilizer (100 and 200 kg N ha-1) by increasing plant length, yield and nutrient content. However, potassium fertilizers have less effect on both plant parameters. Increasing N addition increased tomato and pepper plant yield, however increasing K addition did not make a significant (P< 0.277, 827 respectively) difference on the yield of either plant. Under high nitrogen and potassium fertilizer application, flowering time was earlier than that of the control plants. Nitrogen treatments increased the plant N, P and K concentration. The study showed that K fertilizer has no significant influence on nutrient concentration. Results have shown that pepper plants have a higher K content than tomato plants. Key words: Pepper, tomato, nitrogen, potassium, fertilizer, nutrient uptake.

Galacturonosyltransferase 4 silencing alters pectin composition and carbon partitioning in tomato

Pectin is a main component of the plant cell wall and is the most complex family of polysaccharides in nature. Its composition is essential for the normal growth and morphology pattern, as demonstrated by pectin-defective mutant phenotypes. Besides this basic role in plant physiology, in tomato, pectin structure contributes to very important quality traits such as fruit firmness. Sixty-seven different enzymatic activities have been suggested to be required for pectin biosynthesis, but only a few genes have been identified and studied so far. This study characterized the tomato galacturonosyltransferase (GAUT) family and performed a detailed functional study of the GAUT4 gene. The tomato genome harbours all genes orthologous to those described previously in Arabidopsis thaliana, and a transcriptional profile revealed that the GAUT4 gene was expressed at higher levels in developing organs. GAUT4-silenced tomato plants exhibited an increment in vegetative biomass associated with palisade parenchyma enlargement. Silenced fruits showed an altered pectin composition and accumulated less starch along with a reduced amount of pectin, which coincided with an increase in firmness. Moreover, the harvest index was dramatically reduced as a consequence of the reduction in the fruit weight and number. Altogether, these results suggest that, beyond its role in pectin biosynthesis, GAUT4 interferes with carbon metabolism, partitioning, and allocation. Hence, this cell-wall-related gene seems to be key in determining plant growth and fruit production in tomato.

Seasonal abundance of fruit borer,Helicoverpa armigera(Hubner) and its impact on marketable fruit production in tomato,Lycopersicon esculentum(Mill.)

The first appearance of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) was recorded in the last fortnight of December (50th and 52nd standard week), but to low ebb (0.12 and 0.10 larvae/m row) irrespective of the year of study. The initial population gradually increased and remained confined to vegetative growth but it rapidly increased during fruiting stage and attained its peak in 15th standard week (2nd week of April). Thereafter, the pest population declined. Rainfall and relative humidity were negatively correlated with the pest activity, whereas the temperature, were positive correlation with relative humidity. Likewise, temperatures were positively associated in enhancing the pest population buildup. The maximum temperature demonstrated negative impact with relative humidity in the buildup of larval population of. The first fruit infestation was recorded on 10th standard week at a low ebb irrespective years of study, which progressively increased and reached its peak i.e. 52.20 and 55.75 per cent in 15th standard week in 2005-06 and 2006-07, respectively. Thereafter, the fruit infestation declined in successive pickings.

Eelgrass Slabs, a Soilless Culture Substrate That Inhibits Adhesion of Fungi and Oomycetes and Enhances Antioxidant Activity in Tomato

Composed of a marine plant, Zostera sp., eelgrass slabs are a novel organic substrate for soilless cultures used in tomato production. The benefit of using eelgrass slabs for growing tomatoes was assessed by comparing it with coconut fiber slabs in regard to contamination by Pythium spp. and to the antioxidant properties of tomato fruits. First, tomato root contamination by Pythium spp. was studied by direct plate counting, and a molecular comparison of fungal and oomycete communities was conducted using PCR-DHPLC. Second, the antioxidant properties of tomato fruits were analyzed by measuring total phenol and carotenoid contents and by evaluating radical scavenging activity. Compared to plants grown on coconut fiber slabs, those on eelgrass slabs presented a lower rate of Pythium spp. root contamination. Moreover, culture on eelgrass slabs produced fruits with better radical scavenging activity and higher total phenol content compared to controls. Carotenoid content was not affected by the type of substrate. This study highlights the value of detrital leaves of Zostera sp. as a substrate for soilless culture that reduces root contamination and also promotes the production of tomato fruits with better nutritional value.

Production and quality of tomato fruits under organic management

Information about the production and quality of tomato cultivars under organic management and the conditions of climate and soil from the north region of Minas Gerais State, Brasil, are scarce. Thus, this research was carried out to evaluate the production and quality of tomato cultivars under organic management, in this region. The treatments consisted of four open pollination tomato cultivars (Chadwick Cherry, Pitanga vermelha, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Kada) and five hybrid cultivars (Marguerita, Nicolas, Ellen, Magestade and Dominador). The experimental design was of randomized blocks with three replications. The experiment was carried out using organic fertilization in the initial preparation of the area, compost and rock phosphate and sprays with Bordeaux mixture, neem oil and fertilizer. The marketable yield varied from 12.3 t ha-1 to 23.9 t ha-1. The hybrid Marguerita presented higher marketable production (23.9 t ha-1). The cultivars Chadwick Cherry and Pitanga Vermelha reached similar production as most cultivars and larger proportions of marketable and giant fruits, and therefore, better market quality. All the cultivars presented low potassium and manganese levels in foliar tissue suggesting an evaluation after various organic manuring cycles and better nutrition conditions are necessary to permit the comparison of the performance of cultivars in this system.

TOMATO STEM AND FRUIT DYNAMICS PREDICTED WITH A WHOLE-PLANT WATER AND CARBON FLOW MODEL

Tomato fruit production is economically very important in horticulture. In order to improve competition on the world market, growers' main focus is shifting to fruit quality (e.g., organoleptic and nutritional). Although these quality traits are very complex, they are to a large extent influenced by water and carbon translocation towards the fruits. A mechanistic model is presented which integrates fruit fresh and dry weight production with overall plant water and carbon status. Experimental data of stem and fruit diameter variations and stem sap flow rates, collected on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.), were used to construct a fruit growth simulation model. The presented model offers insights into the fruit dry and fresh weight production in relation to the water relations at the whole-plant level. The model was calibrated for a period of three days based on stem and fruit diameter data and using sap flow data as input for the model. The integrated approach enables to map out the different opposite and cooperating xylem and phloem flows within the plant and towards the fruit. This way, sound relationships between the entire plant and the diurnal fruit diameter dynamics were revealed. Implementation of the obtained insights in greenhouse management systems can lead to optimized environmental conditions for fruit production and fruit quality.

Impact of organic and inorganic fertilizers on tomato vigor, yield and fruit composition under tropical andosol soil conditions

Introduction . Little is known about the impact of organic manure on andosol. Materials and methods . Two varieties of Solanum lycopersicum L. (cvs. ‘Rio grande’ and ‘Rossol VFN’) were grown under tropical andosol. The soil was silty, acidic and very poor in Bray P (3 mg·kg–1 ) with a strong imbalance in the (Ca:Mg:K) ratio of (74.0:25.0:0.7). Five fertilization treatments were used: (i) control with no fertilizer, (ii) minerals, with a (Ca:Mg:K) ratio of (76:18:6) and 75 mg P·kg–1 of soil; (iii) poultry manure with a (Ca:Mg:K) ratio of (68:24:7) and 450 mg P·kg–1 of soil; (iv) a combination of (ii) and (iii), and (v) mineral fertilization as applied by local farmers, with a (Ca:Mg:K) ratio of (73:25:1) and 54 mg P·kg–1 of soil. Results . All cation-balanced treatments (organic, mineral or a combination of both) significantly improved plant growth, the number of trusses and fruits per plant, the marketable fruit yield and fruit P, K, Ca and Na contents of both tomato varieties considered. The ‘Rio grande’ variety was the most productive (32–44 t·ha–1 ) compared with the ‘Rossol’ variety (20–22 t·ha–1 ). There was no major difference between the organic fertilizer and the cation-balanced mineral fertilizer. There was no effect of mineral fertilizer with an unbalanced cation composition on tomato plant growth and production as compared with unfertilized control. Conclusion. In tropical andosol poor in potassium and phosphorous and with excess of Mg, application of poultry manure in adequate dosage and at the right time is capable of sustaining tomato fruit production, as well as the application of calculated inorganic fertilizer.

Effect of shading with aluminised screens on fruit production and quality in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under greenhouse conditions

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of using aluminised screens offering different degrees of shading on the production and quality of tomato cv Atlético crops grown under greenhouse conditions. The study was performed in an Almería-type "raspa and amagado" commercial greenhouse with an area of 10,000 square m. The covering material was heat-insulating polyethylene (200 microm thick). The passive ventilation area of the greenhouse was 14%. Transplantation of the plantlets into the sandy mulch soil of the greenhouse was performed to leave a density of 1.78 plants/square m. Plants were grown under extendable aluminised screens offering 40% (T40), 50% (T50) and 60% (T60) shading, as well as under traditional whitewashing conditions (control). The screens were used during the middle hours of the day in summer with a view to reducing radiation, and at night in autumn and winter to prevent the loss of heat via outgoing long-wave infrared radiation. Only the T60 treatment returned significantly different results compared to the control: the T60 fruit had a lower deg Brix but were firmer in both growing seasons.

Potensi Trichoderma harzianum sebagai Biofungisida pada Tanaman Tomat ( Trichoderma harzianum Potency as a Biofungicide on Tomato Plant )

Fusarium disease of tomato plant is caused by Fusarium oxysporum. For gaining high quality and stable tomato production but physically construction, natural management of environment balancing, consistency, and stability is a must. A kind effort that should be tried is using natural agent, Trichoderma. This research aims to know the effect of Trichoderma implementation towards Fusarium oxysporum growth, and Tomato fruit production and vitamin content. There are two steps of this research. The first is seeing Trichoderma perform towards Fusarium oxysporum growth in a variation of incubation periode (7, 14. 21 and 28 days). The second, is giving Trichoderma agent on the tomato planting in some dozez (g), such as 0,10,20,30,40 and 50. The parameter are Fusarium oxysporum growth limits area, fruit weight per plant, and fruit vitamin C content. The research shows that Trichoderma giving are effecting Fusarium oxysporum growth, tomato fruit weight and fruit vitamin C content in a significance way. The highest level of vitamin C content (84,78 mg/matterial) and fruit weight (550 g) is gained on Trichoderma implementation which has incubation day of 21 (19.08 % ) and dozez of 40 grams. Â K eywords : biofungisida,Trichoderma, Fusarium oxysporum , tomat

Effect of Dropping on Le-ACS2 Accumulation Around the Mechanically Stressed Site of the Tomato Fruit

Ethylene production and the accumulation of the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS; EC 4.4.1.14) gene were determined in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit that were dropped from a height of 5 cm. Dropped fruit had higher ethylene production than nondropped controls, and this lasted for at least 10 h. Maximum accumulation of Le-ACS2, one of the members of the Le-ACS multigene family, was achieved 5 h after dropping, and changes in accumulation tracked closely with ethylene production. In comparison with control fruit, substantial accumulation of Le-ACS1A, Le-ACS4, or Le-ACS6 in dropped fruit was not observed. These results indicated that the increased ethylene production following fruit dropping was most likely regulated by Le-ACS2 transcripts. The transfer of dropping stimuli from directly stressed tissues was investigated by measuring Le-ACS2 accumulation at various positions on the dropped fruit. Le-ACS2 was mainly induced in the fruit pericarp, and there was low accumulation in the fruit interior. The Le-ACS2 accumulation linearly decreased with increasing distance along the pericarp from the stressed site. This implied that accumulation of Le-ACS2 was dependent on stress levels, while most ethylene that was derived from dropping was produced at the stressed site. Using levels of Le-ACS2 accumulation, the ethylene production of tomato fruit at mechanically impacted sites was estimated to be about 50 times higher than that of nondropped controls.

Doses de N e K no tomateiro sob estresse salino: III. Produção e qualidade de frutos

A aplicação de doses elevadas de fertilizantes pode aumentar a tolerância das culturas aos sais, reduzindo o desequilíbrio nutricional causado pela salinidade. Para testar a hipótese, desenvolveu-se um estudo para avaliar a produção e a qualidade de frutos de tomate, híbrido Facundo, irrigado com água salina, sob diferentes doses de N e K. O trabalho foi conduzido em um ambiente protegido e os tratamentos se compunham da combinação de três níveis de N (7,5; 15,0 e 22,5 g por planta de N) e três níveis de K (8, 16 e 24 g por planta de K2O) aplicados via fertirrigação por gotejamento, no esquema fatorial 3 x 3, com cinco repetições sendo que, à água de irrigação, também foram adicionados os sais cloreto de sódio e cloreto de cálcio para obtenção de condutividade elétrica da água de 9,5 dS m-1. Não se verificaram efeitos dos tratamentos sobre os componentes de produção (produtividade, tamanho e peso médio dos frutos) nem sobre alguns parâmetros de qualidade dos frutos (concentração de nutrientes, sólidos solúveis e acidez titulável), ocorrendo aumento da concentração de K e redução de Na/K nos frutos, com o aumento da dose de K. Concluiu-se que a aplicação de doses elevadas de N e K não contribuiu para o aumento da tolerância do tomateiro a salinidade.

Keeping quality of tomato fruit by high electrostatic field pretreatment during storage

AbstractBACKGROUND: High electrostatic field, as a feasible and non‐chemical technique, applied to food preservation is a new area of study. The present article intensively investigated this new preservation method, together with its effects on post‐harvest physiology and quality of tomato.RESULTS: Green mature tomatoes were exposed to negative (or positive) high electrostatic field for 2 h at 20 °C and then stored for 30 days at 13 ± 1 °C, 85–90% RH. Our results indicated that negative high electrostatic field (−2 kV cm−1) could delay the decline of firmness and the change in color, total soluble sugar and titratable acidity of tomato fruit during storage. The peak of respiration and ethylene production of tomato fruit during storage were delayed by negative high electrostatic field treatment for 6 days and 3 days, respectively. Increases of malondialdehyde content and electrical conductivity in tomato fruit were inhibited significantly by negative high electrostatic field treatment during storage (P &lt; 0.05).CONCLUSION: A high electrostatic field of − 2 kV cm−1 can be used to keep the qualities and extend the shelf‐life of tomato fruit. Further research should be highly recommended to understand the mechanisms improving the storability of tomato fruit by negative high electrostatic field. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry