Physicochemical attributes of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) varieties under Polyhouse and Mulching Conditions

Authors

  • Habtamu Tegen Nibret

Abstract

Experiment was conducted to study the effect of mulch on physicochemical attributes of tomato varieties under polyhouse growing condition at Bahir Dar in 2012 and 2013 during the rainy season. Treatments were arranged in 2 x 4 factorial combinations where the two varieties viz. Miya and Cochoro were grown under four mulch conditions (black & white plastic, grass mulch and no mulch) in randomized complete block design with three replications.  The interaction of variety and mulch significantly (P≤0.05) influenced number of fruits per plant marketability of fruits, fruit width, titratable acidity, sugar to acid ratio, fruit juice content and pH. Mulch and variety significantly (P≤0.05) affected almost all physicochemical attributes of fruit. The application of mulch significantly increased number of fruits per plant, particularly; grass mulch produced significantly highest number of total and marketable fruit number per plant. Plants grown under black plastic mulch produced fruits that had significantly highest weight (80.29g). Varieties grown under mulch varied in producing fruits with all desirable chemical contents except total soluble solid. Plants grown under black plastic mulch produced fruits with significantly highest values for almost all physicochemical attributes and most importantly good flavor of fruits was attained with sugar to acid ratio >10. Considering the varieties, Cochoro was identified as better variety in terms of physicochemical attributes of fruits as compared to Miya. It is possible to conclude that growing of tomato varieties under ployhouse using mulch during rainy season produce fruits with desirable traits that satisfy both the producers and consumers’ interest and preference. Specifically, it is possible to recommend the use black plastic mulch and Cochoro variety to enhance tomato fruit physicochemical qualities for better market under polyhouse growing condition.     Key Words: Mulch; physicochemical; polyhouse; quality and tomato

References

AARC (Adet Agricultural Research Center). 2003. Horticultural Crops Production and

Associated Constraints in North-Western Ethiopia. (Initial Result of Informal Survey) Unpublished.

Abdul-Baki, A. A. and Stommel, J. 1996. Hairy Vetch Mulch Favorably Impacts Yield of

Processing Tomatoes. J. Hort. Sci. 31(3):338–340.

Acedo, A., T., Chanthasombath, K. Sanatem, C., Phomachan, K. and Weinberger. 2008. Fruit Quality of Two Tomato Cultivars at Different Stages of Harvest Ripeness. Asia Pacific Symposium on Assuring Quality and Safety of Agri-Foods.

Arin, L. and A. Sozer. 2001. Effect of Low-Tunnel, Mulch and Pruning on the Yield and

Earliness of Tomato in Unheated Glasshouse. J. Appl. Hort. 3(1):23-27.

AVRDC (Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center). 2001. Vegetable

Germplasm Conservation and Management. A Training Course Held at Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center Africa Regional Program, Arusha,Tanznia.

Baye B. 2011. Effect of Mulching and Amount of Water on the Yield of Tomato

under Drip Irrigation. J. of Hort. and For. 3(7): 200-206.

Baldwin E, J. Scott, M. Einstein, T. Malundo, B. Carr, R. Shewfelt, K. Tandon .1998.

Relationship between sensory and instrumental analysis for tomato ¯avour. Journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science123,906±915

Belel, M. 2012. Effects of Grassed and Synthetic Mulching Materials on Growth and

Yield of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum) in Mubi, Nigeria. J. of Agri. & S. Sci. 8(3): 97–99.

Caliman, F., D. Da-Silva, P. Stringheta, P. Fontes and G. Moreira. 2010. Quality of

Tomatoes Grown under a Protected Environment and Field Conditions. Inter. Res. J. of Agri. Sci. and S. Sci. 28(2): 75-82.

Capuno, O., Z. Gonzaga, M. Lorto, E. Briones, A. Tulin, R. Gerona, J. Mangmang and G.

Rogers. 2007. Cultivation of Tomato under Rainy Shelter and in Open Field. Working Paper # 13. Cabintan, Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines.

CSA (Central Statistical Authority). 2013. Agricultural Sample Survey 2012/2013.

Report on Agricultural Practice (private peasant holdings, main season) Statistical Bulletin 532. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Davies J., G. Hobson.1981. The constituents of tomato fruit the influence of environment,

nutrition and genotype. Critical Review of Food Science and Nutrition (15): 205-280

FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) (2007) FAOStat, core production 2005.

Available online: http://faostat.fao.org/site/340/default.aspx

Hassandokht, M.R., M. Mohsenifar, G.A. Peyvast. 2011. Effects of Dark and Light

Mulches on Quantitative and Qualitative Traits of Three Tomato Cultivars. J. Pl. Eco. Physiology.2: 193-197.

Hossain M. E., M. J. Alam , M.A. Hakim, A.S.M. Amanullah and A.S.M. Ahsanullah.

An Assessment of Physicochemical Properties of Some Tomato Genotypes and Varieties Grown at Rangpur. Bang. Res. Publ. J. 4(3): 235-243. Retrieve from http://www.bdresearchpublications.com/admin/journal/upload/09180/09180.pdf.

Ilić, Z. S., L. Milenković, L. Šunić, L. Stanojević M. Solarov, D. Marinković. 2012.

Tomato fruits quality as affected by light intensity using color shade nets. Proceedings of 47th Croatian and 7th International Symposium on Agriculture. Opatija. pp 414–418.

Incalcaterra, G., Iapichino G., and Vetrano, F. 2004. “Effects of Transparent

Polyethylene Mulching and Different Planting Densities on Tomato Grown for Processing in Sicily.†Options Mediterraneennes Serie A, Seminaires Mediterraneens 60: 185-188.

Janse J, Schols M.1995. Une preÂfe Ârence pour un gou Ãt sucre Âet non farineux.

Groenten+Fruit26,16-17.

Kere, G.M., M.O. Nyanjage, G. Liu and S.P.O. Nyalala. 2003. Influence of Drip

Irrigation Schedule and Mulching Material on the Yield and Quality of Greenhouse Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.â€Money Makerâ€). Asian J. of P. Sci. 2(14): 1052-1058.

Lemma, Dessalegn. (2002). Tomatoes Research Experience and Production Prospects.

Research Report No. 43. Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Liang,Y., Lin, X., Wei, Z., Inosako, K., Yamada,S., Yanmei, B., and Inoue, M. (2011).

The Correlation between Microenvironment and Tomato Fruit Quality in Greenhouse. Consumers Electronics Communication and Network (CNCNst) pp.1779-1782.

Malundo, M., R. Shewfelt, J. Scott. 1995. Flavor quality of fresh tomato (Lycopersicon

esculentum Mill.) as affected by sugar and acid levels. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 6:103-110

Miles, C. A., K. Leonas and P.K. Andrews. 2012. Effect of High Tunnels and

Biodegradable Mulches on Tomato Fruit Quality and Yield. Bioag Project Progress Report.

MoARD (Minstry of Agriculture and Rural Development). 2007. Crop Variety Register.

Crop Development Department, Adiss Ababa, Ethiopia.

Moreno, M., A. Moreno and I. Mancebo. 2009. Comparison of Different Mulch Materials

in Tomato (Solani lycopersicume) Crop. Spanish J. of Agri. Res. 7(2): 454-464.

Nzanza B. 2006. Yield and quality of tomato as influenced by different Ca,Mg,K

nutrition. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Olaniyi J. 2007. Evaluation of Yield and Quality Performance of Grain

Amaranth Varieties in the South western Nigeria Res. J. Agron., 1(2): 42-45.

Palada, M.C., R.Y. Roan, and L.L. Black. 2003. Rain Shelter for Tomato Production in

the Hot Season, AVRDC, The World Vegetable Center.

Pena, R. and J. Hughes. 2007. Improving Vegetable Productivity in a Variable and

Changing Climate, AVRDC, The World Vegetable Center.

Rashidi, M. and M. Gholami. 2011. Interaction Effect of Plastic Mulch and Tillage

Method on Yield, Yield Component and Quality of Tomato. Amer. J. of Agro. 4(1): 06-12.

Sacco, D.A. 2005. Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Tomato Quality Traits. UniversitÃ

Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico Ii Dottorato Di Ricerca In Agrobiologia E Agrochimica – Xxi Ciclo Indirizzomiglioramento Genetico E Orticoltura.

Samaila, A.A., E.B. Amans, and B.A. Babaji, 2011. Yield and Fruit Quality of Tomato

(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) as Influenced by Mulching, Nitrogen and Irrigation Interval. Inter. Res. J. of Agri. Sci. and Soil Sci., 1(3): 090-095. Available online http://www.interesjournals.org/IRJAS.

Selamawit Ketema and Lemma Dessalegne. 2008. Evaluation of tomato genotypes for salt tolerance at seed germination. In: Ethiopian Horticulture Science Society (EHSS). 2008. Volume I. Proceedings of the first conference 23-24 March 2006, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. pp. 99-102.

Stevens M. 1979. Tomato quality: Potential for developingcultivars with improved

avour.Acta Horticulturae (93):317-329.

Stevens M., A. Kader, M. Albright-Halton, M.Algazi.1977. Genotypic variation for

flavor and composition in fresh market tomatoes. Journal of the American Society of HorticulturalScience (102): 680-689.

Titilayo O. O. and M. A. Folorunso. 2014. Influence of Weather Elements on

Phenological Stages and Yield Components of Tomato Varieties in Rainforest Ecological Zone, Nigeria. Journal of Natural Sciences Research. (4): 19-24.

Wahome, P.K., D.N. Mbewe, J.I. Rugambisa and V.D. Shongwe. 2001. Effects of

Mulching and Different Irrigation Regimes on Growth, Yield and Quality of Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill. ‘Rodade’). Faculty of Agriculture, Luyengo Campus, University of Swaziland.

Witter, S.H. and S. Honma, 1979. Greenhouse Tomatoes, Lettuce and Cucumbers. East

Lansing, Michigan University Press.

Znidarcic, D., S. Trdan, and E. Zlatic. 2003. Impact of Various Growing Methods on

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Yield and Sensory Quality. Zb. Bioteh. Fak. Univ. Ljublj. Kmet. 81: 341 – 348.

Downloads

Published

2015-12-27

Issue

Section

Agriculture