Harvest Maturity Affects Fruit Yield, Size, and Grade of Fresh-market Tomato Cultivars

Eight staked, determinate tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars were harvested when green (before breaker stage) or when pink (breaker stage and riper) in two replicated field studies. In general, total yield and average fruit size were reduced when fruit were harvested at the green stage. Harvest maturity had only a small effect on occurrence of most fruit defects, except fruit cracking, which was more severe for pink than for green fruit in the early season experiment. Although total yields for pink harvested fruit were higher than for green harvested fruit in the early season study, the high incidence of fruit crack in pink fruit resulted in similar yields of U.S. combination grade (U.S. no. 1 and U.S. no. 2) fruit for both treatments. Because the largest fruit often bring a premium price, harvesting fruit when pink probably will result in a higher price per kilogram than harvesting fruit when green. Fruit harvested green, however, are generally firmer, more crack resistant, and require fewer harvests than fruit harvested pink.

Download Full-text

Black Polyethylene Mulch Doubled Yield of Fresh-market Field Tomatoes

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.7.787 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (7) ◽

pp. 787-789 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Aref Abdul-Baki ◽

C. Spence ◽

R. Hoover

Keyword(s):

Field Experiments ◽

Total Yield ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Planting Date ◽

Trickle Irrigation ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Planting Dates ◽

Early Production ◽

Polyethylene Mulch

Field experiments were conducted to a) maximize total yield of fresh-market field tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars using black polyethylene mulch (BPM), and b) increase fruit size and yield during the last 5 weeks of the production period by reducing the number of synthate sinks per plant through eliminating all flowers that appeared during this period. Unmulched treatments under trickle irrigation and multiple applications of soluble fertilizer yielded an average of 43 t·ha-1 for `Sunny' and `Pik-Rite' over the two planting dates. With BPM, total yield increased by 95% to 84 t·ha-1. Although total yield increases due to BPM over the control were highly significant in both cultivars and over the two planting dates, yield increases were higher for the early than for the optimum planting date. BPM also significantly increased early production of `Pik-Rite' but not `Sunny', and the increase in early production was more pronounced for the optimum than the early planting date. Sink reduction during the last 5 weeks of the growing season had no effect on yield or fruit weight during that period.

Download Full-text

Potassium Application and Leaf Sufficiency Level for Fresh-market Tomatoes Grown on a Midwestern United States Fine-textured Soil

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.16.2.0247 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 247-252 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

H.G. Taber

Keyword(s):

Growth Habit ◽

Total Yield ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Size Difference ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Leaf Petiole ◽

Indeterminate Growth Habit ◽

Loam Soil ◽

Marketable Fruit

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) response to potassium (K) fertilization on a well-drained, central Iowa loam soil testing low in exchangeable K was evaluated over a 3-year period. Each year the experimental design was a factorial, split-plot randomized complete block with K rate as the whole unit (0 to 332 lb/acre). The subunit was cultivar, either `Mountain Spring' (determinate growth habit) or `Jet Star' (indeterminate growth habit). Fruit harvest began the first week of August and continued weekly for 5 to 8 weeks. For all years there was a significant K rate and cultivar effect for all parameters, but no interaction except for marketable fruit size and unmarketable fruit produced. Increasing the K rate to 103 lb/acre increased fruit size of both cultivars to a maximum of 8.9 oz, but year accounted for greater fruit size difference than the choice of cultivar. Maximum marketable yield for both cultivars occurred at 220 lb/acre K with `Jet Star' producing 13% more fruit than `Mountain Spring', 359 vs. 319 cwt/acre, respectively. Cullage was high, mostly as a result of blotchy ripening disorders, with `Jet Star' consistently producing more culls than `Mountain Spring'. Increasing K rate did not reduce the percentage of culls, which remained constant at about 29% of total yield. Whole-leaf K and leaf petiole sap K levels linearly increased with additional K rate for the two sample periods at flowering and mid-harvest. The whole-leaf K sufficiency level for both cultivars at the flowering stage of growth was determined to be 3.15% and dropped to 1.30% K by mid-harvest. Critical petiole leaf sap K values (using a dilution of 1:1 sap to water) could not be determined at flowering, but at mid-harvest the critical value was about 2200 to 2800 ppm K.

Download Full-text

Protected Culture Enhances Early Season Strawberry Fruit Yield and Quality in Southern California

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.40.4.1126d ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 1126D-1127

Author(s):

Oleg Daugovish ◽

Kirk Larson

Keyword(s):

Open Field ◽

Southern California ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Gray Mold ◽

Fruit Shape ◽

Fruit Rot ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Early Season ◽

Field Production

Total and marketable yield, fruit size and fruit rot were evaluated for `Camarosa' and `Ventana' strawberries grown with or without protected culture in southern California in 2003 and 2004. In both years, bareroot transplants were established on 5 Oct. using standard “open field” production methods. Fifty-five days after transplanting, metal posts and arcs were positioned over portions of the field and covered with 0.0324-mm-thick clear polyethylene (Tufflite Thermal, Tyco Plastics, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.) to create “tunnel” structures 5 m wide, 25 m long, and 2.5 m high. Each tunnel covered three contiguous strawberry beds, and experiment design was a randomized complete block with four replications, with individual plots consisting of 20 plants. In 2003, early season (Jan.–1 Apr.) marketable yields in tunnels were 90% and 84% greater than outdoor culture for `Ventana' and `Camarosa', respectively. In 2004, use of tunnels resulted in a 140% marketable yield increase for `Ventana' and 62% for `Camarosa' (Jan.–31 Mar.); however, unusually high temperatures (38 °C) in April resulted in reduced yields in tunnels thereafter. In both years, increased early production coincided with highest fresh market fruit prices, resulting in $5700–7700 greater returns per-acre compared to open field production. For both cultivars, tunnel production resulted in 37% to 63% fewer non-marketable fruit due to less rain damage, better fruit shape, and decreased incidence of gray mold. For all treatments, fruit size decreased as the season progressed and was more pronounced in tunnels after April. Overall, these studies indicate that tunnels have potential for enhancing early-season production and profitability of strawberries in southern California.

Download Full-text

Effect of UV-reflective Mulches on Tomato Yields and on the Silverleaf Whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii (Bellows & Perring)

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.31.4.570a ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 570a-570

Author(s):

A.A. Csizinszky ◽

D.J. Schuster

Keyword(s):

Lycopersicon Esculentum ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Field Studies ◽

Mottle Virus ◽

Silverleaf Whitefly ◽

Bemisia Argentifolii ◽

Plastic Film ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Black Band

Field studies were conducted for three seasons, Fall 1994, Spring 1995, and Fall 1995 on the effect of UV-reflective films (mulches) on fruit yields and on the silverleaf whitefly [Bemisia argentifolii (Bellows and Perring)] of staked, fresh-market tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill). The UV-reflective mulches were metallized aluminum (ALU) and painted aluminum (PAL) on either black or white plastic film. The AL and SL mulches were evaluated with and without a white (fall) or black (spring) 25-cm-wide painted band in the bed center. Controls were the conventional white (fall) or black (spring) polyethylene mulches. Highest reflected energy (μmol·m–2·s–1) to the plants at 25 cm from the mulch surface was measured on the ALU without white painted band or on PAL on white or black mulch with white painted band. Lowest energy was reflected from the white or black controls. Whitefly populations in the fall were lower on the ALU than on the PAL mulches. In the spring, when whitefly populations were low, number of whiteflies on tomato leaves were similar with all treatments. The proportion of plants with symptoms of the silverleaf whitefly transmitted tomato mottle virus (TMoV) were highest on controls. Yields in the fall were similar with UV-reflective or with white mulch. In the spring, fruit size and marketable yields were greater (P < 0.05) on plants with PAL on white plastic film without black band than on black control.

Download Full-text

Using the Float System and Copper Hydroxide Tray Treatment for Tomato Transplant Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.30.4.868f ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 868F-868

Author(s):

Jim E. Wyatt ◽

Marla C. Akridge

Keyword(s):

Plant Height ◽

Total Yield ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Production Method ◽

Copper Hydroxide ◽

Plastic Foam ◽

Tomato Plants ◽

Early Season ◽

Yield Distribution

Conventionally grown tomato transplants were compared with those grown in a float system for growth and productivity. Tomato plants grown in a float system were larger than plants grown conventionally and produced higher early season yields of small, medium, and large fruit. Yields of extra-large fruit and total yield were not affected by production method. Mean fruit size from conventionally grown plants was larger early in the season. Transplant growth in plastic foam tray cells treated with 7% Cu(OH)2 was compared with growth in nontreated cells. Transplants from trays treated with Cu(OH)2 were larger and had fewer roots emerging from the bottom of the trays. Cu(OH)2 treatment had no effect on plant height in the field, seasonal yield distribution, total yields, or mean fruit size.

Download Full-text

Effect of Bicyclopyrone on Triploid Watermelon in Plasticulture

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/wet.2018.36 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 439-443 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Matthew B. Bertucci ◽

Katherine M. Jennings ◽

David W. Monks ◽

David L. Jordan ◽

Jonathan R. Schultheis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weed Management ◽

Total Yield ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Field Studies ◽

Yield Response ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Fruit Number ◽

Triploid Watermelon ◽

Marketable Fruit ◽

Polyethylene Mulch

AbstractField studies were conducted to determine watermelon tolerance and yield response when treated with bicyclopyrone preplant (PREPLANT), POST, and POST-directed (POST-DIR). Treatments consisted of two rates of bicyclopyrone (37.5 and 50 g ai ha–1), fomesafen (175 g ai ha–1), S-metolachlor (802 g ai ha–1), and a nontreated check. Preplant treatments were applied to formed beds 1 d prior to transplanting and included bicyclopyrone (37.5 and 50 g ha–1) and fomesafen (175 g ha–1), and new polyethylene mulch was subsequently laid above treated beds. POST and POST-DIR treatments were applied 14 ± 1 d after watermelon transplanting and included bicyclopyrone (37.5 and 50 g ha–1) POST and POST-DIR, and S-metolachlor (802 g ai ha–1) POST-DIR. POST-DIR treatments were applied to row middles, ensuring that no herbicide contacted watermelon vines or polyethylene mulch. At 2 wk after transplanting (WAT), 15% foliar bleaching was observed in watermelon treated with bicyclopyrone (50 g ha–1) PRE. At 3 WAT, bicyclopyrone (37.5 and 50 g ha–1) POST caused 16% and 17% foliar bleaching and 8% and 9% crop stunting, respectively. At 4 WAT, initial injury had subsided and bicyclopyrone (37.5 and 50 g ha–1) POST caused 4% and 4% foliar bleaching and 4% and 8% crop stunting, respectively. No symptoms of bleaching or stunting were observed at 6- and 8-WAT ratings. Watermelon total yield, marketable yield, total fruit number, marketable fruit number, and average fruit size were unaffected by herbicide treatments. Therefore, registration of bicyclopyrone (37.5 and 50 g ha–1) PREPLANT, POST, and POST-DIR would offer watermelon producers a safe herbicide option and a novel mode of action for weed management.

Download Full-text

Pomological properties of sweet cherry cultivars grafted on ‘colt’ rootstock

Journal of Agricultural Sciences Belgrade ◽

10.2298/jas1301061m ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 61-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dragan Milatovic ◽

Dejan Djurovic ◽

Boban Djordjevic ◽

Todor Vulic ◽

Gordan Zec

Keyword(s):

Sweet Cherry ◽

Fruit Set ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Fruit Characteristics ◽

Early Season ◽

Late Season ◽

Commercial Cultivation ◽

Fruit Cracking ◽

Physical Chemical ◽

Sweet Cherry Cultivars

Pomological properties of 11 newly sweet cherry cultivars grafted on Colt rootstock were studied in the region of Macva over a three-year period (2010- 2012). An investigation has included phenological traits (flowering and maturing), the elements of productivity (number of flowers in an inflorescence, fruit set and yield), the most important fruit characteristics (physical, chemical and sensory), and fruit cracking index. Average time of flowering of tested cultivars was in the first and the second decade of April, while the maturing time was between 15 May (?Early Lory?) and 20 June (?Penny?). The highest yield was achieved by cultivars ?Giorgia?, ?Sunburst?, and ?Crystalina?. Large fruit size was found in cultivars ?Penny?, ?Santina?, ?Sunburst?, ?Olympus?, and ?Kordia?. The lowest susceptibility to fruit cracking was manifested in cultivars ?Early Lory? and ?Giorgia?. Cultivars ?Kordia? and ?Cristalina? were given the highest sensory ratings. Overall, the best results were shown by medium-early season cultivar ?Santina?, which can be recommended for commercial cultivation. In addition, the early-season cultivar ?Early Lory?, and the late-season cultivar ?Kordia? can also be recommended for cultivation.

Download Full-text

Differential Tolerance of Fresh Market Sweet Corn Cultivars to the Herbicides Nicosulfuron and Primisulfuron

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.6.1070 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 1070-1073 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Timothy L. Grey ◽

David C. Bridges ◽

Paul Raymer ◽

Don Day ◽

D. Scott NeSmith

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Genetic Background ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Field Studies ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Early Season ◽

Untreated Check ◽

Ear Number

Field studies were conducted to determine the tolerance of 11 sweet corn (Zea mays L.) cultivars to the herbicides nicosulfuron and primisulfuron. The su cultivar `Merit' was intolerant of nicosulfuron and primisulfuron, as indicated by significant differences from the untreated check for all measured variables. Most other su cultivars exhibited stunting, but injury was ≤19% (0% = no injury; 100% = dead) with nicosulfuron and primisulfuron in 1992. The se cultivars Alpine and Harris Moran Silverado exhibited variable stunting to nicosulfuron (25% and 23% injury, respectively) and primisulfuron (43% and 50%, respectively) in 1992. The sh2 cultivar Supersweet Jubilee was injured less by nicosulfuron (16%) than by primisulfuron (33%) in 1992. All cultivars except Merit recovered from early-season herbicide injury in 1992 and 1993. Significant differences among the se, su, and sh2 cultivars were recorded for the remaining variables (stalk height, marketable ear number and yield, ear length and diameter), but no patterns with respect to a specific sugary genetic background developed in 1992 or 1993. Nicosulfuron and primisulfuron were safely applied to the cultivars Alpine, Harris Moran Silverado, Royal Gold, Seneca Chief, Calumet, Jubilee, and Supersweet Jubilee without reductions in fresh ear yield. Chemical names used: {2-[[[[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)amino] carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]-N,N-dimethyl-3-pyridinecarboxamide} (nicosulfuron); {methyl 2[[[[[4,6-bis(difluoromethoxy)-2-pyrimidinyl]amino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzonate} (primisulfuron).

Download Full-text

INFLUENCE OF SOIL TENSION ON TOMATO FRUIT CRACKING

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.6.663e ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 663e-663

Author(s):

Peter J. Nitzsche ◽

C.A. Storlie ◽

W.P. Cowgill ◽

W. Tietjen

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Tomato Fruit ◽

Total Yield ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Field Studies ◽

Irrigation Regime ◽

Trickle Irrigation ◽

Available Water ◽

Fruit Cracking ◽

Marketable Fruit

Fruit cracking in tomatoes is a serious problem, particularly when trellis culture is used. Past studies indicate that fruit cracking is associated with fluctuating soil moisture levels. Soil moisture variations are influenced by irrigation practices, and an irrigation regime employing frequent applications of water will lessen variations in soil moisture. A field study was initiated to study the effect of trickle irrigation regime on fruit cracking in `Celebrity' tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill). In the three treatments used, soil was allowed to dry to 10-20, 50-60, and 100-110 centibars of tension, respectively, between watering and then was irrigated to field capacity. These tension levels corresponded with soil moisture levels of field capacity (10-20 cb), 20% of available water depleted (50-60 cb), and 40% of available water depleted (100-110 cb). Yield measurements indicated that the driest treatment (100-110 cb) significantly reduced the percent of radially cracked fruit. This treatment also significantly lowered the total yield, in terms of both fruit number and weight. There was no significant effect, however, on marketable fruit yield due to irrigation treatments. Further field studies are required to determine the optimum irrigation program to reduce fruit cracking.

Download Full-text

Cracking in Sweet Cherry Cultivars Early Bigi and Lapins: Correlation with Quality Attributes

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants9111557 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1557

Author(s):

Sandra Pereira ◽

Vânia Silva ◽

Eunice Bacelar ◽

Francisco Guedes ◽

Ana Paula Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sweet Cherry ◽

Total Yield ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Quality Attributes ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Fruit Cracking ◽

Scar Region ◽

Wax Content ◽

Sweet Cherry Cultivars

Fruit cracking is one of the main concerns in sweet cherry production and is caused by a heavy rainfall before and during the harvest. This physiological disorder leads to severe economic losses, which can be more or less effective depending on the cracked region of the fruit: in the cheeks (side cracks), in the stylar scar region, or in the stem cavity region. Sweet cherry cracking can be affected by several factors such as cultivar, growing conditions, rootstock, fruit size, flesh osmotic potential, cuticular characteristics of the skin, and stage of fruit development. In this sense, the objective of this work was to evaluate the cracking incidence in two sweet cherry cultivars (Early Bigi and Lapins grafted on “Saint Lucie 64” rootstock) and correlate the cracking index with other quality parameters. Fruits were harvested on 2 May (cv. Early Bigi) and on 27 May (cv. Lapins) 2019 at their commercial ripening stage. In the field, the total yield and the trunk cross-sectional area were determined for each tree in order to calculate the yield efficiency. In the laboratory, the cracking index was determined in 150 fruits without visual defects. In addition, fruit size and weight, wax content, flesh firmness, epidermis rupture force, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, and maturity index of 30 fruits were also evaluated. In general, all the analyzed quality parameters were influenced by the cultivar, being that cv. Lapins presented larger, heavier, firmer, and sweeter fruits, with more acidity and higher maturation index. However, cv. Lapins also presented higher cracking index, which was positively correlated with all the parameters above-mentioned and negatively correlated with the wax content. In fact, cv. Early Bigi presented a high wax content and simultaneously a low cracking index. The stylar scar region cracks were the most prevalent in both cultivars. These results allowed us to conclude that, in the North Portugal region, the Lapins cherries presented better quality attributes than the Early Bigi cherries. However, the latter are still very valuable to the region due to its early ripening. Additionally, it was also possible to conclude that bigger, firmer, more mature, and with lower wax content cherries were more sensitive to cracking than the smaller fruits, soft-fleshed, less mature, and with higher wax content.

Download Full-text