Tomato Growers Research Articles

Effect of Nutrient Solution Concentration on Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Tomato Grown Hydroponically in Single-Truss Production System

Abstract The single-truss production system for tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a relatively new developed cultivation technology that guarantees high yields and high-quality fruit throughout the annual cycle. In this study, we examined the impact of electrical conductivity (EC) of nutrient solutions on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of tomatoes grown in a single-truss system in a hydroponic culture. Plants were supplied with nutrient solution at the following EC values: 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, and 1.4 mS·cm−1 in the spring and summer cycles, and at 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, and 1.6 mS·cm−1 in the winter cycle. In the spring cycle, the EC of the nutrient solution increased in all treatments, particularly after pinching the main stem. Increased EC values of nutrient solutions were also recorded at the 1.2 and 1.4 EC in the summer cycle and the 1.4 and 1.6 EC in the winter cycle. The leaf number per plant did not differ between treatments in all production cycles. The largest leaf area was found at the 1.2 and 1.4 EC in the spring cycle and the 1.0 and 1.2 EC during the summer. During the winter cycle, no differences in leaf area between treatments were observed. In spring, plants at the 1.2 and 1.4 EC had the highest yields and largest fruits, while during the summer, plants at the 1.0 and 1.2 EC produced the most fruit. In winter, the highest yield was found at the 1.4 EC. The soluble solids concentration (SSC) of fruit was increased at the 1.4 EC both in the spring and summer cycles, while in the winter cycle, there was no difference between the treatments. Only fruit at the 1.4 EC in the summer cycle had an increased acidity. The findings indicate that under greenhouse conditions, tomato cultivation in a single-truss system can be successful if the plants are supplied with a nutrient solution at an EC value of 1.2–1.4 mS·cm−1.

Environmentally Friendly Livestock Waste Management in High-Population Areas in Karang Ploso Malang Regency East Java

Purpose: This abstract explores the need for integrated development in the agricultural and livestock sectors of Ngenep Village, Karangploso, Malang Regency, focusing on utilizing livestock waste effectively.
 Method: The study details the steps to develop a system for producing organic fertilizer and animal feed from agricultural and livestock waste. It highlights the successful implementation within the "Langgeng Mulya" dairy cattle farming community, emphasizing the utilization of waste for organic fertilizer in chili and tomato cultivation.
 Practical Applications: The research findings showcase the positive response of local farmers to the utilization of livestock waste, addressing the scarcity of organic fertilizer, particularly for tomato and chili growers. This sustainable approach fosters self-sufficiency and offers insights into waste-to-resource strategies.
 Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of integrating the agricultural and livestock sectors for sustainable waste management and resource utilization. It provides valuable lessons for enhancing the efficiency of rural development programs.

The Effect of Biostimulants on Fruit Quality of Processing Tomato Grown under Deficit Irrigation

Water shortage can be a restrictive factor for the growth and quality of vegetable crops. Considering the alleviating effects of biostimulant application against water stress, this study aimed to investigate the effect of four biostimulant products (protein and amino acids with carboxylic acids (Tr1); protein and amino acids with seaweed extracts (Tr2); humic and fulvic acids with seaweed extracts (Tr3); SiO2 (Tr4); and control (no biostimulants added)) and two irrigation systems (regulated deficit irrigation (RDI)—65% of field capacity and regular irrigation (RI)—100% of field capacity) on quality parameters of processing tomato fruit. Regulated deficit irrigation and biostimulant application increased the energetic value, carbohydrates, and free sugars content, while organic acids showed a variable response to biostimulant use. In terms of tocopherols (α-, β-, γ-, δ-) and carotenoids (lycopene and β-carotene), regular irrigation and biostimulant application negatively affected their content, while Tr3 treatment had a beneficial impact on these lipophilic compounds under RDI conditions. The main fatty acids were palmitic (C16:0) and linoleic (C18:2n6) acids, which increased when plants were treated with Tr3 and Tr1 biostimulants under a deficit regime. Antioxidant activity (assessed by TBARS and OxHLIA assays) and total phenolic and flavonoids content also showed a variable response to the studied factors. In particular, the application of Tr3 and the control treatment under RDI increased the total phenolic content, while the control and Tr3 treatments under the same irrigation regime recorded the highest antioxidant activity. In conclusion, our results indicate that the adoption of eco-friendly strategies such as regulated deficit irrigation and biostimulant application can beneficially affect the quality traits of processing tomatoes.

Assessment of Correlation Analysis for Yield and Yield Contributing Traits among Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Genotypes

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most economically valuable crops worldwide, making it imperative to understand the complex interplay of various factors influencing tomato yield. During the research, we investigate Correlation analysis enhances our understanding of the relationships between the variables. We employ Pearson correlation coefficients to assess the strength and direction of linear associations. The results indicate strong positive correlations between morphological traits of diverse genotypes of tomato. This research article contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing a comprehensive assessment of the path coefficients and correlations among key factors influencing tomato yield. Our findings have practical implications for tomato growers, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding selection of different tomato genotypes strategies to optimize yield.

Whitefly-Transmitted Viruses Threatening Tomato Production in Oman

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a vital crop in Oman, contributing significantly to the country's agricultural economy and food security. However, the tomato industry faces a critical threat from whitefly-transmitted viruses that have emerged as a major concern for tomato growers in the region. This abstract summarizes the pressing issue of whitefly-transmitted viruses and their impact on tomato production in Oman. Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci), small sap-feeding insects, have become notorious for their role in transmitting various devastating viruses to tomato plants. These viruses, including Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV), and Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), can cause severe damage to tomato crops, leading to reduced yields, poor fruit quality, and substantial economic losses for farmers. This abstract emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to mitigate the impact of whitefly-transmitted viruses on tomato production in Oman. Such an approach may include integrated pest management strategies, breeding programs for resistant tomato varieties, and education and awareness campaigns for farmers. Additionally, collaborative efforts between researchers, farmers, and policymakers are essential to develop sustainable solutions and ensure the continued viability of the tomato industry in Oman. Whitefly-transmitted viruses pose a significant threat to tomato production in Oman, jeopardizing food security and economic stability. Addressing this issue requires immediate attention and a concerted effort to protect the tomato industry, safeguard livelihoods, and ensure a sustainable future for agriculture in the country.

Optimizing Tomato Grafts for Improved Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality

Low tomato production and yield in the country can be attributed to various biotic and abiotic stresses. To mitigate the impact of these challenges, vegetable grafting is gaining popularity worldwide. Furthermore, tomato growers are adopting hybrid varieties, but the majority of them face challenges affording the cost of hybrid seeds. This study was conducted in 2018 to investigate successful tomato grafting techniques aimed at enhancing growth, yield, and fruit quality. This study examined three distinct rootstocks (AS-2565, Bush beefsteak, and Roma vf), three high-yielding scion varieties (Super tomato, Rio-grande, and T-1359), and employed two grafting methods (splice and cleft). Non-grafted plants were maintained as check plants. The grafting methods showed non-significant differences in all studied parameters except grafting success, whereas the scion-rootstock combinations exhibited highly significant differences. The highest grafting success, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, and yield per plant were observed in the T-1359 scion grafted onto the Bush beefsteak (BBS) rootstock. Regarding quality characteristics, higher levels of total soluble solids (TSS) and pH were observed in non-grafted Super tomato plants. In terms of vitamin C, titratable acidity (TA), and lycopene content, the T-1359 scion performed better across various rootstocks. In conclusion, T-1359 grafted onto the BBS rootstock proved to be a superior scion-rootstock combination in terms of growth, yield, and quality.

Effect of sodium concentrations in the root environment on yield and fruit quality of soilless grown tomato with closed-loop irrigation system

Effect of sodium concentrations in the root environment on yield and fruit quality of soilless grown tomato with closed-loop irrigation system

Pesticide Usage in Pest Management by Vegetable Producers in the Foumbot Production Basin of the Western Highlands (Cameroon)

Purpose: Cameroon is the food basket of the Central African Region in terms of food production and a significant proportion of her population depends on the production of fruits and vegetables for livelihood. The Western Highlands of Cameroon is known for its high agricultural output, especially in the domain of market gardening. The Foumbot Production Basin in the Western Highlands of Cameroon is noted for its high agricultural output, especially in the domain of market gardening. Produce originating from this area is consumed throughout the nation, especially in the Southern Regions of Cameroon and also exported to neighbouring countries like Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic. This study therefore sought to find out how pesticides are being employed in the production of these crops (mostly fruits and leafy vegetables, of short growing cycles) in the Foumbot Production Basin of the Western Highlands of Cameroon. 
 Methodology: A survey was conducted in which a well-developed questionnaire containing both closed multiple-choice and open-ended questions, was established to collect important information related to the topic from the market gardeners in the Foumbot Production Basin. A total of 100 market gardeners were interviewed. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The data allowed us to assess the pesticide use practices of tomato growers by having a clear idea on demographic social characteristics (sex, level of education, age, and marital status), agronomic practices (cropping season and cropping system), application of pesticides (types of pesticides used, source of information’s relating to the use of pesticides, the moment of application, reaction following the ineffectiveness of the product, respect pre-harvest intervals, knowledge of the presence of residues in the fruits, health effects, wearing of PPE and disposal of empty packaging). 
 Findings: It was observed that a majority of the gardeners were males with mostly secondary education. Many of the gardeners did not disposed their empty pesticide containers properly while a majority did not use personal protective equipment during application. Up to 93% of producers do not respect or ignore the pre-harvest interval. Harvest was determined by the availability of buyers of the crop, irrespective of the last time it was sprayed. This is attributed to the complete absence of extension services and training. 
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This information can be used to develop a training programme on pest management especially on pesticide use in the Foumbot Production Basin.

Improving Yield of Tomatoes Grown in Greenhouses Using IoT Based Nutrient Management System

Aims: This paper discuss, a study conducted to evaluate the developed automated IoT based fertigation control system for greenhouse for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) crop.
 Study Design: Different nutrient and irrigation water levels were used to evaluate developed system using three replications in a factorial randomized block design (RBD).
 Methodology: An automated fertigation scheduling system was implemented in a greenhouse with soil moisture sensors at three depths (15, 30, and 45 cm) within the tomato root zone. R2, RMSE, NSE and MAE values were used to establish the correlation between sensor values and actual soil moisture. Tomato crop biometric parameters were collected and analyzed to evaluate the system's performance.
 Results: The results indicated strong correlation between sensor and observed soil moisture with R2 (0.8642 to 0.9528), RMSE (1.0786 to 1.8328), NSE (0.8438 to 0.9463), and MAE (0.9729 to 1.7043) values. Highest plant height (255 cm), girth (2.29 cm), number of leaves (21), number of flowers (23.1), fruit length (8.05 cm), fruit weight (110 g), yield/plant (2.75 kg), yield (68.77 t/ha) and sugar (5.1°Brix) were observed with drip irrigation at the rate of 100% ETc and 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), while minimum values of these parameters were noted in the control treatment.
 Conclusion: Using sensor-based drip irrigation at 100% ETc and 100% RDF led to a 62.92% increase in tomato yield and water saving of 14.84% compared to the control treatment. For tomato crop, the system required 2.27 l/plant/day water at 100% ETc. The developed automated fertigation system found suitable for greenhouse vegetable crops with the use of sensor based drip irrigation at 100% ETc and 100% RDF.

Economic, health, and environmental burden of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), in tomato production in Kenya and Uganda.

The negative effects of pest infestation on agricultural production cannot be underestimated. There have been several efforts to control these pests, chiefly through the use of synthetic pesticides. However, the continuous use of the chemicals causes pest resistance and resurgence and presents high human and environmental risks. This study examines the economic, health, and environmental impacts of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick 1917), an economically important pest in tomato production, among smallholder farmers in selected counties in Kenya and Uganda. Economic Impact Quotient and gross margin analysis were used on data obtained from a random sample of 316 and 345 tomato growers in Kenya and Uganda, respectively. The results show a significant impact of T. absoluta on tomato production in both countries. On average, the tomato growers earned a gross income of $38,123 and $11,627 in Kenya and Uganda, respectively, with synthetic chemicals for the management of T. absoluta contributing 66-78% of the cost of production. The opportunity cost lost due to forgoing pesticide for management of the pest, and instead replacing it with an integrated pest management package was valued between $8 and $646 in Kenya and $895 in Uganda, respectively, using net present value through the most pessimistic scenario, while benefit-cost ratio was $1 and $5 in Kenya and Uganda, respectively.

Determination of Phytophthora Species Causing Root and Crown Rot on Tomatoes Grown in Antalya Province and Reactions of Some Tomato Genotypes against Phytophthora nicotianae

Antalya province is the main center of vegetable production in Türkiye. Tomato comes first in terms of crops cultivated under greenhouse. Phytophthora species causing root and crown rot are among the factors negatively affecting tomato yield and quality. This research aimed to determine the prevalence of root and crown rot of tomatoes grown in Antalya province and to identify Phytophthora species causing disease. During surveys performed in 170 tomato greenhouses, plant and soil samples were taken from the areas where root and crown rot, stem blight, and drying symptoms were observed. Disease prevalence and incidence in the investigated greenhouses were 25.88% and 4.87%, respectively. Phytophthora symptoms were not observed in the greenhouses in Demre and Kepez districts, while the highest disease prevalence was found in Elmalı district with 75%. Eighty of 84 Phytophthora isolates were identified as P. nicotianae and four as P. capsici, according to their cultural, morphological and molecular characterisation. Virulence of 18 selected isolates were determined by using stem inoculation technique and all isolates caused lesions with different lengths on tomato stems. The reactions of 22 tomato genotypes in the gene pool of BATEM against P. nicotianae were also investigated and the genotype DT-15 was found as the most susceptible genotype with the largest lesions, while A-286 was the most resistant genotype. This study formed the basis for further studies on tomato breeding and integrated disease management.

Tomato Maturity Detection and Counting Model Based on MHSA-YOLOv8.

The online automated maturity grading and counting of tomato fruits has a certain promoting effect on digital supervision of fruit growth status and unmanned precision operations during the planting process. The traditional grading and counting of tomato fruit maturity is mostly done manually, which is time-consuming and laborious work, and its precision depends on the accuracy of human eye observation. The combination of artificial intelligence and machine vision has to some extent solved this problem. In this work, firstly, a digital camera is used to obtain tomato fruit image datasets, taking into account factors such as occlusion and external light interference. Secondly, based on the tomato maturity grading task requirements, the MHSA attention mechanism is adopted to improve YOLOv8's backbone to enhance the network's ability to extract diverse features. The Precision, Recall, F1-score, and mAP50 of the tomato fruit maturity grading model constructed based on MHSA-YOLOv8 were 0.806, 0.807, 0.806, and 0.864, respectively, which improved the performance of the model with a slight increase in model size. Finally, thanks to the excellent performance of MHSA-YOLOv8, the Precision, Recall, F1-score, and mAP50 of the constructed counting models were 0.990, 0.960, 0.975, and 0.916, respectively. The tomato maturity grading and counting model constructed in this study is not only suitable for online detection but also for offline detection, which greatly helps to improve the harvesting and grading efficiency of tomato growers. The main innovations of this study are summarized as follows: (1) a tomato maturity grading and counting dataset collected from actual production scenarios was constructed; (2) considering the complexity of the environment, this study proposes a new object detection method, MHSA-YOLOv8, and constructs tomato maturity grading models and counting models, respectively; (3) the models constructed in this study are not only suitable for online grading and counting but also for offline grading and counting.

Effects of the Application of a Plant-Based Compost on Yield and Quality of Industrial Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Grown in Different Soils

Effects of the Application of a Plant-Based Compost on Yield and Quality of Industrial Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Grown in Different Soils

Estimation of Tomato Resource Use Efficiency and Cost and Returns per Ha in Raipur District, Chhattisgarh, India

"Economic analysis of production and marketing of tomatoes in Raipur, Chhattisgarh" is the topic of the current study. The sample was chosen using a multistage random sampling technique. The Raipur district's 1 Block, 5 Villages, and 60 Tomato Growers were all included in the research. By using the personal interview approach, the main statistics for the season of 2023 were gathered. Different secondary sources were used to gather information on the region, production, and productivity. Tabular analysis was heavily employed to achieve the study's numerous goals. The main conclusions of the study showed that the cost of production per quintal of tomatoes and the cost of cultivation per hectare were both Rs. 67892.643. A total of Rs. 101700.00 was the net profit per acre. The return on investment was 2.50 rupees.

Post-harvest Technology Adoption and Income Patterns of Tomato Farmers in Nepal

A study was conducted in the Kavrepalanchok district of Nepal to analyze the post-harvest technology adoption among open field and plastic house tomato growers and assess the factors of tomato production determining the income of the farmers. Altogether fifty-six tomato growers were selected randomly following the Simple Random Sampling technique for the household survey. Primary data were collected using pre-tested interviews with tomato farmers. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Ms. Excel 2010. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the adoption level of post-harvest technologies and a multiple linear regression model was carried out to estimate the factors of tomato production affecting the household income. Analysis of the post-harvest practices of farmers suggested that 53.85% of plastic house growers and 33.33% of open field growers harvested tomatoes in the yellow stage; 44.64% of farmers practiced grading; 88.5% plastic house tomatoes and 80.0% open field tomatoes were packed in plastic crates; only 26.49% practiced processing; more than half of the farmers had access to collection centers; the majority had a medium level of knowledge regarding different post-harvest management technologies. Among various factors, Nova variety was estimated to increase household income by 71% followed by production per unit area (48%), cost of cultivation (37%), access to processing industries (10%), and direct selling to consumers (9%). In wholesome, though NARC has recommended many post-harvest technologies, the adoption level is unsatisfactory. The unavailability of a sufficient quantity of quality fertilizers, lack of rural infrastructure facilities including roads, and inadequate technological extension were the factors hindering the adoption of post-harvest technologies in the study area.

The Level of Application of Scientific Recommendations by Tomato Growers in Nimrud District

The study’s overarching goals are to (1) quantify the extent to which tomato farmers in Nimrud district follow scientific advice and (2) investigate the relationship between the extent to which farmers in Nimrud district follow scientific recommendations and certain explanatory variables. A total of (532) farmers from tomato farms in the Nimrud district participated in the study. By selecting a 25% random sample, 133 farmers were asked to participate in this study. In the first of a three-part questionnaire, we asked about demographics such respondent’s age, education level, and employment status, number of years of work in tomato cultivation, land area), while the second part included (51) items To measure the level of application using a triple scale, three alternatives were allocated (I apply to a large degree, I apply to a medium degree, I do not apply) and weights were determined for them (1, 2, 3) degrees, respectively, while the third portion covered (8) difficulties that hinder tomato farmers in Al-Nimrud district In-depth interviews were used to compile the data. Following that, the spss program was used to purge the data for statistical analysis. The results showed that 58% of the respondents had an average level of application. The results also showed that there was a substantial link between the independent variables (age, number of years of employment in tomato farming, land area) (age, number of years of work in tomato cultivation, land area). and the degree of application, whereas there is no significant association between academic attainment and the amount of application, and it was determined that the problem of high gasoline prices placed top with the greatest percentage (90.22). The researcher recommends to increase material and moral support for vegetable farmers from the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Company for Agricultural Supplies.

Imaging Techniques of Tomatoes (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) Grown with Different Organic and Conventional Fertilizer Applications

In this study, which was carried out in field conditions in Van in 2019 and 2020, different image generation methods (biocrystallization method, and circular and rising picture chromatography methods) were used to determine the difference between various organic and conventional fertilizer applications. 3% frozen tomatoes and 16% CuCl2.2H2O were applied in the biocrystallization method, 80% frozen tomatoes and 1% silver nitrate solution were used in the circular chromatography method, and 100% frozen tomatoes and 0.5% silver nitrate and 0.5% iron sulfate solution were employed in the rising picture method. In light of the visual findings obtained at the end of the study, it has been determined that there are some differences between organic and conventional fertilizer applications. As the alteration between organic and conventional products; the center number difference in the copper crystallization method; the smoothness of the rings formed in the circular chromatogram and the vividness of the colors; in the rising painting method, it clearly reveals the transitions between colors and the difference in light and dark tones that occur in colors.

Factors Influencing Access to and Uptake of Climate Change Adaptation Information Among Smallholder Tomato Growers in Iringa and Morogoro Regions—Tanzania

Factors Influencing Access to and Uptake of Climate Change Adaptation Information Among Smallholder Tomato Growers in Iringa and Morogoro Regions—Tanzania

Processing Linkages and Farm Income of Small and Medium Tomato Growers in Punjab

Processing Linkages and Farm Income of Small and Medium Tomato Growers in Punjab

Cultural practices and use of pesticides on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) market gardeners in Loumbila and Ouahigouya (Burkina Faso)

The misuse of pesticides and their overdose on vegetables has an impact on people's health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cultivation and phytosanitary practices of tomato growers at the Loumbila and Ouahigouya vegetable growing sites. A survey on cultural and phytosanitary practices was carried out among 25 tomato producers at these two market gardening sites. Results show that 16% of producers use dams and 80% traditional wells as a source of water supply. The inputs used are mainly organic (cow's mouth, household waste) and chemical (NPK, urea) fertilizer. The frequency of use of chemical fertilizer is once a week at the Loumbila site and only once a month in the Ouahigouya site. All the producers surveyed used pesticides and 67% do not respect the deadlines for indicated on the packaging labels. A total of 16 pesticides (insecticides, fungicides) are used during tomato production. Cypermethrin and Lambda-cyhalothrin from the pyrethroid family and acetamiprid from the Neonicotinoid family were the most used by producers. Most of these pesticides are not intended for vegetable crops but rather for cotton crops. The pesticides used may remain in the tomato in significant amounts and pose a threat to consumers.