Tomato Growers Research Articles

Differential physiological and biochemical responses of two tomato cultivars to salt stress at the seedling stage

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress that drastically hinders plant growth and development, resulting in lower crop yields and productivity. As one of the most consumed vegetables worldwide, tomato (Solanum lycropersicum L.) plays a key role in the human diet. The current study aimed to explore the differential tolerance level of two tomato varieties (Rio Grande and Agata) to salt stress. To this end, various growth, physiological and biochemical attributes were assessed after two weeks of 100 mM NaCl treatment. Obtained findings indicated that, although the effects of salt stress included noticeable reductions in shoots’ and roots’ dry weights and relative growth rate as well as total leaf area, for the both cultivars, Rio Grande performed better compared to Agata variety. Furthermore, despite the exposure to salt stress, Rio Grande was able to maintain an adequate tissue hydration and a high leaf mass per area (LMA) through the accumulation of proline. However, relative water content, LMA and proline content were noticeably decreased for Agata cultivar. Likewise, total leaf chlorophyll, soluble proteins and total carbohydrates were significantly decreased; whereas, malondialdehyde was significantly accumulated in response to salt stress for the both cultivars. Moreover, such negative effects were remarkably more pronounced for Agata relative to Rio Grande cultivar. Overall, the current study provided evidence that, at the early growth stage, Rio Grande is more tolerant to salt stress than Agata variety. Therefore, Rio Grande variety may constitute a good candidate for inclusion in tomato breeding programs for salt-tolerance and is highly recommended for tomato growers, particularly in salt-affected fields.

Sensitivity of Septoria lycopersici Speg. isolates to fungicides in Brazil

Disease management using synthetic fungicides is the main strategy used by tomato growers to prevent tomato yield reductions caused by Septoria leaf spot (SLS). Despite the importance of this plant disease, there is little information about the sensitivity of Septoria lycopersici isolates to fungicides. The sensitivity of 94 isolates of S. lycopersici to azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, tebuconazole, and thiophanate-methyl was assessed in experiments using fungicide-amended 96-well microtiter plates. The highest EC 50 values above 100 mg/L were detected for azoxystrobin, thiophanate-methyl, and tebuconazole. Based on these results, five isolates classified as resistant and five as sensitive to each fungicide were selected for the experiments. Tomato plants were inoculated with sensitive (S) and resistant (R) isolates and sprayed by the fungicides in three greenhouse assays. The differences in the values of the area under the progress curve of Septoria leaf spot (AUDPC), disease severity progress, and progress rates were not so pronounced between tomato plants sprayed and non-sprayed with fungicides. The AUDPC values for plants inoculated with S and R isolates and treated with chlorothalonil, tebuconazole, and thiophanate-methyl ranged from 10 to 320, 0 to 80, and 50 to 150, respectively. For azoxystrobin, the AUDPC values were around 200 in plants inoculated with S and R isolates. There is evidence of reduced sensitivity of individuals of S. lycopersici to azoxystrobin, tebuconazole, and thiophanate-methyl in the population in Brazil. Therefore, tomato growers should rotate and combine fungicides with different mechanisms of action and low-risk of resistance to control SLS.

Fairness and Contractual Performance in Vertical Linkages Within an Uncertain Environment: A Case of a Tomato Value Chain

In developing countries with uncertain institutional environments, ensuring fairness in contractual arrangements within food value chains is crucial to overcome modern challenges. This paper empirically investigates the vertical relationship between tomato growers and canneries in Algerian agriculture to assess the determinants of contractual performances and price fairness implications. The study is based on an analysis of a comprehensive dataset of 9127 tomato growers engaged in contract farming over four years (2018–2021). Three regression methods were estimated, namely logit, tobit, and quantile regressions, alongside exploratory analysis. The main findings shed light on the factors influencing contractual performance among contracting producers, primarily farm scale and distance from the contracting processor. Additionally, the findings highlight the key role of contract enforcement mechanisms in influencing the contractual performances of tomato growers. Several recommendations are made to incentivize tomato growers and improve overall contractual performance within such public policy settings. Contract arrangements, including fair price negotiation and the requirement for tomato processing firms to make specific investments, are advocated to foster self-enforcement and significantly enhance the growers’ contractual performance. This is particularly important in many developing countries where the business environment is characterized by an absence of effective public enforcement institutions along with a highly uncertain environment.

The Effect of NaCl-Salinity Applications on the Improvement of Quality Characteristics and Yield of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) Grown in Substrate Culture

Salt application in soilless cultivation systems can be considered as a strategic tool to improve tomato fruit quality. In this context, the effects of increasing the salt concentration in the nutrient solution added to the solid culture medium on yield and yield components, biophysical and organoleptic quality traits of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Kardelen F1) under greenhouse conditions were studied. The salt in the nutrient solution was applied to tomato plants as sodium chloride (NaCl) at four concentrations (0, 14.1, 44.4, and 70.4 mM). Each pot received 150 mL of nutrient solution daily during the vegetative period, while 300 mL was applied daily after flowering. This study was conducted with three replicates following a randomized block design. Plants were harvested 90 days after transplanting. Low salt application in the nutrient solution (14.1 mM NaCl) increased total fruit yield, while the high salt application did not effect fruit yield compared to the control. Salt application at increasing concentrations decreased fruit size and diameter but increased the dry matter in the fruit. The salt treatment mainly positively affected the commercial and organoleptic quality parameters of the tomato fruits. In conclusion, a low level of sodium chloride (14.1 mM NaCl) in soilless culture enhanced fruit production, while moderate (44.4 mM) and high (70.4 mM) concentrations improved various fruit quality traits.

Knowledge Gain through Instructional Videos among Tomato Growers of Central Plain Zone of Punjab, India

Knowledge Gain through Instructional Videos among Tomato Growers of Central Plain Zone of Punjab, India

Measuring and expounding technical and cost efficiencies of smallholder tomato producers in Northern Ethiopia

While tremendous progress has been achieved in expanding irrigation to improve fruit and vegetable production, the issue of resource use efficiency has received little attention. Tomatoes have economic, nutritional, and health benefits, but their production is very limited for many reasons, including inefficiencies caused by socioeconomic, biophysical, institutional, governance, and meteorological factors. However, there have been very few studies to determine whether tomato producers are technically and economically efficient. Therefore, the study's goal was to assess technical and cost efficiencies, as well as to investigate factors impacting tomato production cost efficiency. Cross sectional data was collected from tomato growers and analysed using Data Envelopment Analysis and Tobit model. The mean technical efficiency was 68 %, revealing 32 % production shortfall and the potential to increase agricultural productivity given present inputs and technologies. The mean cost and scale efficiencies were around 46 % and 37 %, respectively. Farmers operated at high-cost inefficiency compared to their technical and allocative efficiencies. Household size, education, and cash crop planting have all been linked to cost savings. Higher levels of education and larger household sizes are connected with more opportunities for off-farm work, which is likely to reduce on-farm management intensity. The dependency ratio and size of irrigated plots have a detrimental impact on farmer cost efficiency. As the size of irrigated farms grows, farmers become less cost-effective. Education, labor supply, crop types grown, and irrigated farmland all have a significant impact on tomato production cost efficiency. The study suggests that policymakers, development practitioners, and other relevant organizations focus on introducing labour-saving technologies, improving environmental factors, and investing in education and family planning to raise farmer awareness, increase agricultural productivity, and promote cost efficiencies. These can eventually lead to higher food security.

The Effects of Tomato Intercropping with Medicinal Aromatic Plants Combined with Trichoderma Applications in Organic Cultivation

To increase biodiversity in tomato cultivation, two herbal aromatic plants, thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), were introduced as companion plants. Their role was to improve crop plant growth and stress resistance. Moreover, the effect of the soil application of Trichoderma microbial preparations on tomato growth parameters and yield, in combination with companion plants, was studied. Ligno-cellulose multi-layer microcapsules with Trichoderma atroviride TRS14 spores (MIC14) and the commercial preparation Trianum G (TG) were used as microbial preparations. This experiment was carried out in a certified organic field. Tomato plants were intercropped with thyme or basil in the arrangement of two tomato rows alternating with one herbal row. In all intercropping arrangements and in the control (tomato plants grown without herbs), subplots were sectioned. The soil in the subplots was amended with the MIC14 and TG preparations used at a concentration of 104 spores g−1 of the soil and planted with tomato transplants. No control measures were applied during tomato growing, and the plants were naturally infected with late blight. Tomato plant growth parameters and yield were assessed, and late blight severity was monitored. The degree of soil colonization by Trichoderma fungi and the effect of these applications on soil microbial activity and biodiversity (dehydrogenases activity, EcoPlates AWCD, and Shannon index) were evaluated. The results clearly showed a significant influence of thyme and basil on tomato growth and yield in organic production. The cultivation of thyme adjacent to tomatoes had a beneficial effect on the development of the root system and the number of flowers and fruits on the crop plants. Basil, on the other hand, clearly decreased tomato yield and adversely affected the effect of Trichoderma applications by reducing root system development. Moreover, basil as a companion plant increased late blight symptoms. Both Trichoderma strains colonized soil, but they had no significant effect on the microbial activity or metabolic potential measured on the EcoPlates with the use of the BIOLOG system. However, a decrease in dehydrogenases activity was noted. In organic cultivation, the Trichoderma preparations used had no significant effect on tomato yield, opposite to its increase in integrated tomato production.

Effect of Water Regime and Organic Amendment on Agromorphological Parameters of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Grown in the Open Field on Gleysol in Diabo Department, Central Côte d’Ivoire

The aim of the study was to improve the productivity of the PADMA 108 F1 tomato grown in the field on gleysol in the off-season by the combined application of a water regime and an organic amendment. The study took place in the off-season (July-August) in 2022 at Yomian-Kouadiokro (7°49N, 5°9W) in the Gbêkê region and Diabo department of central Côte d'Ivoire. The methodology consisted in clearing a hydromorphic fallow (a gleysol) of about 10 years and delimiting microplots in randomized Fisher blocks of 3 replicates. In each replication, 12 microplots of 5m2 were distributed in 3 blocks, each comprising 4 treatments (poultry manure and sawdust composts, NPK12-22-22 fertilizer and the no-fertilizer control). In each microplot, tomato seedlings were transplanted into 10 pots. At transplanting, fertilizers were applied as a basal fertilizer at a rate of 0.5Kg/pack (poultry droppings and sawdust) and 85g/pack of NPK at the foot of the tomato compared with the control. After planting, a regular watering of 60 liters of water was applied to each block using a watering can (10L), subjecting the seedlings to a specific watering regime of 7 waterings/week, 4 waterings/week and 2 waterings/week. The results showed a highly significant specific effect of watering 7 times/week and of the organic amendment (poultry droppings) on the agromorphological parameters with the highest values compared with the other treatments. On the other hand, the best values for tomato agromorphological parameters were obtained with the combined effect of watering 2 times/week with organic amendments (poultry manure compost), NPK 12-22-22 mineral fertilizer and sawdust compost to some extent. In conclusion, this study shows that to improve the productivity of the PADMA 108 F1 tomato in the ecosystem studied in the off-season, a watering regime of 2 waterings per week is appropriate, regardless of the type of treatment applied (organic or mineral fertilizers).

Effect of Pruning on the Growth and Yield of Indeterminate and Determinate Tomato Variety in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria

Pruning is a management practice that helps to increase fruit yield and quality of fruit, better aeration, better exposure of foliage to sunlight and photosynthetic. Pruning is not a common practice among tomato growers in Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria and most of the farmers have no idea about it. Field trials were conducted concurrently during the dry season of 2020 on the Research Farms of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru (11o 11ꞌN, 07o 38ꞌE 686 m above sea level) and Farmers field in Kujama, (9o 34ꞌN, 8 o 18ꞌE 740m above sea level) in the Northern Guinea Savanna Ecological Zones of Nigeria; to determine the effect of pruning on the growth and yield of indeterminate and determinate hybrid tomato varieties. The experiment consisted of 12 treatments comprising of three pruning techniques (no-pruning, pruning on one stem and two stems) and four varieties of tomato (1 indeterminate hybrid tomato; Larisa F1, 2 determinate hybrid Delta F1, and Platinum F1), and one determinate open pollinated variety (UC82B). The four varieties of tomato with three pruning techniques were factorially combined and laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The result at both locations showed varietal significant differences on growth parameters such as higher plant height, shoot dry weight, leaf area index, crop growth rate, relative crop growth rate, and yield attribute such as fruit diameter, fruits weight per plant, where Larisa F1 performed better than other varieties. Pruning tomato plant to two- stem and one-stem significantly increased growth parameters where two-stem pruned plants performed best. Variety × pruning interaction on total fresh fruit yield indicated that the combination of Larisa F1 with two-stem was found suitable for maximum fruit yield though at par with Larisa F1 one-stem and unpruned.

Personal profile and the constraints faced by the tomato growers in western Uttar Pradesh

Personal profile and the constraints faced by the tomato growers in western Uttar Pradesh

Evaluation of Different Insecticides against Fruit Borer (Helicoverpa armigera) in Tomatoes Grown in Laghman, Afghanistan

Evaluation of Different Insecticides against Fruit Borer (Helicoverpa armigera) in Tomatoes Grown in Laghman, Afghanistan

Morphological and Molecular Identification of Fusarium Oxysporum as the Main Cause of Wilt Disease of Tomatoes Grown in Greenhouses in Albania

Morphological and Molecular Identification of Fusarium Oxysporum as the Main Cause of Wilt Disease of Tomatoes Grown in Greenhouses in Albania

An analytical study on value chain finance to tomato and mango as a component of high value agriculture in the Eastern Uttar Pradesh of India

The study conducted an extensive field survey utilizing pre-tested interview schedules with tomato and mango growers and chain actors. A multi-stage purposive-cum-stratified random sampling method was employed to select sample units. The findings of this study highlight the cost orientation of tomato and mango production, indicating a greater need for consequential credit. The research revealed that growers of both commodities within fragmented value chains had a higher proportionate share in the value addition (price) than growers in integrated chains, primarily due to direct sales of produce to consumers. Additionally, downstream actors such as commission agents, wholesalers, and retailers received a comparatively higher proportionate share in the value additions (price) compared to upward actors, indicating that producers could not effectively compete with increased demand in the marketplace. Observations within the chain indicated that finance for tomato and mango production circulated through a product commitment relationship established between chain participants. Downstream actors provided financing to upstream actors from either their surplus funds or external finance received from financial institutions. The study suggests developing a producer-driven chain financing model as an alternative to the buyer-driven financing model for tomato and mango production. This could be achieved by promoting farmers' organizations as long-term financing strategies for financing institutions.

Effects of Saline Irrigation Water Applications on Evapotranspiration Partitioning and Crop Coefficient of Tomato Grown in Mediterranean-Type Greenhouses

Effects of Saline Irrigation Water Applications on Evapotranspiration Partitioning and Crop Coefficient of Tomato Grown in Mediterranean-Type Greenhouses

Application of the theory of planned behavior to model the intention and behavior of tomato growers in pesticide exposure

Widespread and indiscriminate use of pesticides has become one of the most important environmental and public health problems around the world. This study was conducted with the aim of applying the theory of planned behavior model to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of tomato growers in the face of pesticides in agricultural lands located in Kurdistan province, western Iran. We included 300 tomato growers in this study and they filled up a standard TPB questionnaire containing questions about basic information, knowledge, attitude and behavior about pesticides and their actions for disposing of the residual spray solution, washing place of pesticide sprayer, and the disposal of water from washing the equipment. Most of the respondents, 86.7 %, had not participated in promotional classes on how to dispose of the residual solution. Approximately 46.15, 38.46, and 15.39 % of pesticides contained moderately toxic, slightly toxic and practically non-toxic compounds, respectively. More than two-thirds (89 %) of the tomato growers stated that they leave the water from washing the equipment in the field. In addition, among the three variables of TPB, attitudes had the highest score (3.38), which indicated the positive to relatively neutral attitude of farmers towards the safe use of pesticides. These findings can be useful for planners and environmental organizations to make effective interventions to reduce environmental pollution caused by pesticides. Since the incorrect use of pesticides is one of the important environmental and health factors, education and awareness programs can help farmers to consider the correct use of pesticides and environmental protection more.

Evaluation of the Impact of the Ripening Stage on the Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Fruits from Organically Grown Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Spanish Varieties.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a widely cultivated horticultural crop. It belongs to the Solanaceae family and is known for its high concentration of essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties. The Mediterranean countries, including Italy, Spain, and Greece, have a diverse range of tomato landraces. Assessing the nutritional and bioactive composition of different tomato varieties and their ripening stages is crucial to determine their suitability for the market. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ripening on nutritional composition (including carotenoids and polyphenols content) and antioxidant activities of fruits of three specific tomato varieties grown in Spain: Josefina and Karelya, which are cherry-like tomatoes, and Muchamiel, a type of salad tomato. In addition to evaluating their characteristics and composition (including carotenoids and polyphenol content), the antioxidant activities of these varieties at three different ripening stages were quantified. As expected, the results reveal that, as the tomatoes matured, their antioxidant capacity increased along with higher levels of carotenoids and polyphenols. Interestingly, cherry-like tomatoes showed a higher antioxidant activity than the salad tomatoes. This investigation emphasizes the role of fruit ripening in increasing carotenoid levels, which contribute to the antioxidant activity of three tomato varieties.

Enriching NPK Mineral Fertilizer with Plant-Stimulating Peptides Increases Soilless Tomato Production, Grower Profit, and Environmental Sustainability.

The need to increase agricultural production to feed a steadily growing population may clash with the more environmentally friendly but less efficient production methods required. Therefore, it is important to try to reduce the use of chemical inputs without compromising production. In this scenario, natural biostimulants have become one of the most sought-after and researched technologies. In the present study, the results of a greenhouse experiment on hydroponic tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are presented, which involved comparing the use of ordinary NPK fertilizer (Cerbero®) with the use of NPK fertilizers enriched with 0.5% protein hydrolysate of plant origin (Cerbero Green®) at both standard (100%) and reduced (70%) fertilization rates. The results highlight how the use of Cerbero Green® fertilizers improves the production performance of tomatoes. More specifically, they show that the use of Cerbero Green® leads to higher marketable yields, especially under reducing fertilizer use, ensuring a positive net change in profit for the grower. In addition, carbon footprint analysis has revealed that the use of Cerbero Green® reduces the environmental impact of hydroponic tomato growing practices by up to 8%. The observed higher yield of hydroponically grown tomatoes even with reduced fertilization rates underlines once again the key role of natural biostimulants in increasing both the economic and environmental sustainability of horticultural production.

Impact of Storage Conditions on Fruit Color, Firmness and Total Soluble Solids of Hydroponic Tomatoes Grown at Different Salinity Levels

Tomatoes are delicate and prone to damage quickly, which ultimately leads to lower quality and increased post-harvest losses. Hence, an ideal storage environment is very important to maintain the quality of tomato fruits after harvest. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of storage conditions on the quality parameters of tomato fruits. Experiments were de-signed for six storage periods (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 days) and two temperatures (12 °C and room air temperature “22 °C”). Three tomato fruit quality parameters (Brix, color, and firmness) have been selected and measured for three tomato varieties (Ghandowra-F1, Forester-F1, and Feisty-Red) grown hydroponically at three salinity levels (2.5, 6.0, and 9.5 dS m−1) of the nutrient solution. Results showed that the highest mean Brix values, for all varieties, were recorded at the highest salinity (9.5 dS m−1), and were significantly (Pr < 0.0001) higher than those at medium (6.0 dS m−1) and low (2.5 dS m−1) salinity levels. In addition, the highest fruit firmness was recorded at high salinity level (9.5 dS m−1), but there was no significant difference to that recorded at medium salinity (6.0 dS m−1). Regarding tomato fruit color, the highest average values were recorded for the Ghandowra-F1 (2.51) and Forester-F1 (2.69) varieties at medium salinity (6.0 dS m−1), while the highest average color value for the Feisty-Red variety (1.54) was obtained at high salinity (9.5 dS m−1). On the other hand, the Brix, color, and firmness of tomato fruits were significantly affected by the storage temperature. Moreover, the mean Brix values (7.66%) were slightly higher at 12 °C storage temperature compared to those at 22 °C (7.38%). In general, the fruit color values gradually increased with the storage period, especially under 22 °C storage temperature, with peak color values of 2.73, 2.70, and 1.66 recorded on the 12th day of the storage period for Ghandowra-F1, Forester-F1, and Feisty-Red, respectively. Tomato fruit firmness decreased faster with the storage period at 22 °C compared to the storage temperature of 12 °C. However, the highest average values of fruit firmness for Ghandowra-F1 (9.37 N cm−1) and Forester-F1 (9.41 N cm−1) recorded at control condition were not significantly different those recorded on the 8th day of storage at 12 °C storage temperature. By contrast, the highest average value of fruit firmness for Feisty-Red (8.85 N cm−1) recorded at control condition was not significant than that recorded on the 4th day of the storage period at 12 °C storage temperature (8.82 N cm−1). Overall, tomato fruits can be stored at 12 °C temperature for up to 20–24 days, without negative effects on fruit quality.

ENHANCING TOMATO VARIETY SELECTION AND YIELD PREDICTION MODEL USING ADVANCED MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUES

One important agricultural practice that greatly contributes to the world's food supply is the growing of tomatoes. However, choosing the right tomato varieties and accurately estimating their yields are difficult undertakings that depend on several variables, such as crop statistics, climate, and geography. Advanced machine learning approaches can be used to improve prediction accuracy, feature selection, and preprocessing to overcome these problems. To optimize tomato variety selection and yield prediction, this work investigates an integrated approach that uses improved preprocessing approaches for outlier and missing information, an advanced feature selection method, and a hybrid algorithm.

Potential Human Health Risk from Toxic/Carcinogenic Arsenic in Ripe and Unripe Tomatoes Grown in Wastewater Exposed Zone

Potential Human Health Risk from Toxic/Carcinogenic Arsenic in Ripe and Unripe Tomatoes Grown in Wastewater Exposed Zone