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

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.

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FUNGICIDAL CONTROL OF BOTRYTIS CINEREA ON FOUR STRAWBERRY VARIETIES

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps68-048 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 267-272

Author(s):

C. O. Gourley

Keyword(s):

Botrytis Cinerea ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Gray Mold ◽

Important Variable ◽

The Other ◽

Fruit Rot ◽

High Rate ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

The Mean ◽

Low Rate

Captan, dichlofluanid at a high and a low rate, thiram, and a mixture of captan and thiram were tested in a field trial to control gray mold fruit rot caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. on the strawberry varieties Gorella, Midway, Redcoat and Sparkle. The mean marketable yield of the varieties was increased by dichlofluanid (low) and thiram but not by the other treatments over that of non-sprayed plots. Dichlofluanid (high) gave better control of pre-harvest fruit rot than captan. Dichlofluanid (high) significantly reduced mean fruit size. Redcoat yields were higher with the low rate than the high rate of dichlofluanid, but pre-harvest fruit rot control and fruit size did not differ with the two rates. Gorella yields and fruit size were smaller with captan + thiram than with captan or thiram. Thiram reduced fruit size on Midway. The varietal reaction to fungicides suggests that marketable yield is the most important variable in selecting a fungicide for the control of gray mold fruit rot of strawberries.

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High Tunnel and Grafting Effects on Organic Tomato Plant Growth and Yield in the Subtropics

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech04610-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 492-503

Author(s):

Craig J. Frey ◽

Xin Zhao ◽

Jeffrey K. Brecht ◽

Dustin M. Huff ◽

Zachary E. Black

Keyword(s):

Open Field ◽

Total Yield ◽

Organic Production ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Tomato Production ◽

High Tunnel ◽

High Tunnels ◽

Field Production

Although grower interest in high tunnel tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production has increased in recent years, systematic high tunnel research conducted in humid, subtropical regions has been limited. The potential of tomato grafting to mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses makes it complementary to high-value production systems in high tunnels. In this 2-year study, grafted vs. nongrafted organic tomato production in high tunnels and open fields was investigated to determine possible synergistic effects of these two technologies. In 2016, high tunnels resulted in a significant increase of total and marketable yields, by 43% and 87%, respectively, over open field production. Grafting also significantly increased total and marketable yields over nongrafted plants by 34% and 42%, respectively. Cultivar effects demonstrated greater benefits with the implementation of high tunnel and grafting technologies for ‘Tribute’ (a beefsteak-type tomato) than for ‘Garden Gem’ (a plum-type tomato), as the increase in marketable yield was 33% greater for ‘Tribute’ in high tunnels and 45% greater for ‘Tribute’ with grafting. In 2017, a delayed effective transplanting date and the lack of high tunnel summer season extension produced results that were generally cultivar specific. While grafting increased the total yield of both cultivars (by 18%), marketable yield was increased by grafting only for ‘Tribute’ in high tunnels (by 42%). Additionally, high tunnels improved marketable yield of ‘Tribute’ by 129% but had no effect on ‘Garden Gem’. This demonstrated the consistent trend of the beefsteak-type tomato benefiting more from the combination of high tunnel and grafting technologies than the plum-type tomato. High tunnels reduced fruit decay and cracking by up to 71% compared with open field production. Stink bug (Pentatomidae) damage had the greatest impact on marketable yields each season, reaching 13% and 34% of total yields in 2016 and 2017, respectively, and was unaffected by high tunnel production or grafting. This study revealed the benefits of integrating high tunnel and grafting technologies for enhancing organic production of fresh-market tomato in the humid subtropics, and demonstrated more research is warranted to establish regional planting dates and further optimize this high-value cropping system.

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Treatment Thresholds for European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Infestations in Early-Season Fresh Market Sweet Corn

Journal of Entomological Science ◽

10.18474/0749-8004-33.4.393 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 393-399 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Dale I. M. Riggs ◽

Michael P. Hoffmann ◽

Larry C. Thetford

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

European Corn Borer ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Corn Borer ◽

Air Blast ◽

Early Season ◽

Treatment Thresholds ◽

Lepidoptera Pyralidae

We examined the effect of varying thresholds for treatment of first generation European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), infestations in early-season fresh market sweet corn in eastern New York over a 3-year period. Seven treatment thresholds were compared: (1) 15% infested plants at whorl stage, 5% infested plants at tassel and silk stage, (2) 15% at whorl stage, 15% at tassel and silk stage, (3) 30% at whorl stage, 5% at tassel and silk stage, (4) 30% at whorl stage, 15% at tassel and silk, (5) 5% at tassel and silk stage, (6) 15% at tassel and silk stage, and (7) control (untreated). When thresholds were reached, permethrin was applied using an air-blast sprayer. Results indicated little difference in percentage marketable ears whether plants were treated or not at whorl stage, and the tassel stage threshold could be raised to 15% infested plants with no significant effect on percentage marketable ears. We found no difference in marketable yield among plots treated from one side or both sides with an air-blast sprayer.

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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.

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Evaluating Performance of Cherry and Slicer Tomato Cultivars in Greenhouse and Open Field Conditions: Yield and Fruit Quality

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci16003-21 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Hardeep Singh ◽

Bruce Dunn ◽

Niels Maness ◽

Lynn Brandenberger ◽

Lynda Carrier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Open Field ◽

Block Design ◽

Tomato Fruit ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Field Conditions ◽

Cherry Tomato ◽

Production Type ◽

Lycopene Content ◽

Tomato Cultivars ◽

Field Production

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most extensively cultivated horticultural crops in the world. Factors such as yield, size, taste, and lycopene content are important criteria that may impact the selection of tomato cultivars for different production systems. The aim of the current study was to evaluate different slicer and cherry tomato cultivars for production under greenhouse and open field conditions. Three cultivars of slicer (BHN 964, Trust, and Geronimo) and cherry (BHN 268, Favorita, and Sakura) tomatoes were tested using randomized complete block design in 2019 and 2020. Results showed that the performance of tested cultivars differed under greenhouse verses open field conditions. Among cherry tomato cultivars in 2020, BHN 268 and Sakura produced significantly greater yield under open field conditions, while under greenhouse conditions yield of BHN 268 was the lowest. Similarly, cherry tomato fruit size from ‘BHN 268’ and ‘Sakura’ was also significantly greater than ‘Favorita’ under field conditions, whereas under greenhouse conditions, the fruit size of ‘Sakura’ was significantly greater than both ‘BHN 268’ and ‘Favorita’. Among slicer tomato cultivars, BHN 964 produced significantly greater yield and had a greater average fruit size than the other two cultivars under greenhouse conditions in 2020 while, Geronimo produced significantly similar or larger yield and had a similar average fruit size compared with BHN 964 under open field conditions. Tomatoes produced under open field conditions were rated significantly greater for taste compared with those produced under greenhouse conditions. Lycopene content in both slicer and cherry tomato cultivars was influenced by the interaction of production type, cultivars, and harvest time. Therefore, it can be concluded that BHN 964 and Geronimo were the highest in lycopene among slicer tomato cultivars for greenhouse and open field production, respectively. Among cherry tomato cultivars, BHN 268 was the highest in lycopene for open field production and Sakura for greenhouse production. Additionally, open field–produced tomatoes taste better than greenhouse-produced tomatoes, but lycopene content may be constrained for mid- and late-season fruits due to high temperature conditions under open field conditions.

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High Tunnel and Open Field Production of Floricane- and Primocane-fruiting Raspberry Cultivars

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.21.4.412 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 412-418 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Eric Hanson ◽

Mike Von Weihe ◽

Annemiek C. Schilder ◽

Ann M. Chanon ◽

Joseph C. Scheerens

Keyword(s):

Open Field ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Gray Mold ◽

Rubus Idaeus ◽

Red Raspberry ◽

High Tunnel ◽

Double Cropping ◽

Berry Quality ◽

Cane Blight ◽

Field Production

Identical trials were conducted in a multibay high tunnel and an adjacent open field in southwestern Michigan to compare primocane-fruiting cultivars (Autumn Britten, Caroline, Chinook, Heritage) and floricane-fruiting cultivars (Canby, Encore, Heritage, Nova) of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus). Floricane-fruiting plots of ‘Heritage’ were pruned to produce fruit on floricanes and primocanes (double cropping). The most productive cultivars in both environments were ‘Nova’ and ‘Canby’ (floricane) and ‘Caroline’ and ‘Heritage’ (primocane). These cultivars produced annual yields of 5.5 kg·m−1 row in the tunnel and 2.5 kg·m−1 row in the field. The order of primocane harvest (earliest to latest) was the same in the tunnel and field: ‘Autumn Britten’, ‘Caroline’, ‘Chinook’, and ‘Heritage’. Cultivars with the greatest average berry weight in the tunnel and field were Encore and Nova (floricane) and Autumn Britten and Caroline (primocane). ‘Chinook’ and ‘Autumn Britten’ tended to have the highest incidence of gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) of primocane-fruiting cultivars, but incidence was similar in floricane cultivars. Overall mold incidence was 1% in the tunnel and 13% in the field. Leaf spot (Sphaerulina rubi), cane anthracnose (Elsinoe veneta), spur blight (Didymella applanata), and botrytis cane blight (B. cinerea) were common in the field but absent in tunnel. Phytonutritional analyses of primocane fruit indicated that genotype differences were not consistent across the two environments. Relative cultivar characteristics (harvest season, yield, berry quality) were similar in the field and tunnels, but the tunnel environment tended to increase plant vigor, yield, and fruit quality and suppress several diseases.

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Phenological Aspects of Strawberry Growth Influencing Gray Mold Development in Annual Systems

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.538c ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 538c-538

Author(s):

L.M. Butler Carver ◽

G.E. Fernandez ◽

F.J. Louws

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Leaf Senescence ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Primary Source ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Gray Mold ◽

Fruit Rot ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Leaf Emergence ◽

Relationship Of

Strawberry (Fragaria xananassa) plant phenology was evaluated at two sites in North Carolina in order to assess the relationship of plant growth and the development of gray mold fruit rot (Botrytis cinerea). Site 1 consisted of three cultivars: Camarosa (CA), Chandler (CH), and Sweet Charlie (SC) from a single nursery; site 2 consisted of cultivar CH obtained from three distinct sources. Weekly records were kept of leaf senescence, leaf emergence, flowering, and fruit set, as well as a monthly whole-plant analysis. Leaf senescence and emergence was uniform for all treatments, with >90% of transplant foliage senescing between November and December. Analysis of leaf area and plant weights reveal an increase in dry mass beginning in February and continuing through April. Although first bloom appeared in December, primary floral development occurred in late February for cultivar SC and in March for cultivars CA and CH, with blooms continuing through late May. Marketable yield was lower in cultivar SC throughout harvest, with the exception of early fruit development in March. Non-marketable yield varied, with increases in gray mold following periods of heavy rainfall. Statistical analysis of all data shows no consistent differences in plant growth or disease among treatments. Analysis of foliage revealed latent infections on transplants as the primary source of gray mold inoculum. Patterns of plant growth and corresponding disease development found in this study provide tools necessary for phenology-based control practices for the integrated management of gray mold.

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

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.29.6.613 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

pp. 613-615 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jeanine M. Davis ◽

Randolph G. Gardner

Keyword(s):

Total Yield ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Field Studies ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Early Season ◽

Green Fruit ◽

Fruit Cracking ◽

High Incidence ◽

Premium Price ◽

Harvest Maturity

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.

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Tomato Growth, Yield, and Root Development, Soil Nitrogen and Water Distribution as Affected by Nitrogen and Irrigation Rates on a Florida Sandy Soil

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci15177-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 55 (11) ◽

pp. 1744-1755

Author(s):

Ibukun T. Ayankojo ◽

Kelly T. Morgan ◽

Davie M. Kadyampakeni ◽

Guodong D. Liu

Keyword(s):

Open Field ◽

Management Practices ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Growth Yield ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

N Application ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Application Rates ◽

N Rates

Effective nutrient and irrigation management practices are critical for optimum growth and yield in open-field fresh-market tomato production. Although nutrient and irrigation management practices have been well-studied for tomato production in Florida, more studies of the current highly efficient production systems would be considered essential. Therefore, a two-season (Fall 2016 and Spring 2017) study was conducted in Immokalee, FL, to evaluate the effects of the nitrogen (N) rates under different irrigation regimes and to determine the optimum N requirement for open-field fresh-market tomato production. To evaluate productivity, the study investigated the effects of N rates and irrigation regimes on plant and root growth, yield, and production efficiency of fresh-market tomato. The study demonstrated that deficit irrigation (DI) targeting 66% daily evapotranspiration (ET) replacement significantly increased tomato root growth compared with full irrigation (FI) at 100% ET. Similarly, DI application increased tomato growth early in the season compared with FI. Therefore, irrigation applications may be adjusted downward from FI, especially early during a wet season, thereby potentially improving irrigation water use efficiency (iWUE) and reducing leaching potential of Florida sandy soils. However, total marketable yield significantly increased under FI compared with DI. This suggests that although DI may increase early plant growth, the application of DI throughout the season may result in yield reduction. Although N application rates had no significant effects on biomass production, tomato marketable yield with an application rate of 134 kg·ha−1 N was significantly lower compared with other N application rates (179, 224, and 269 kg·ha−1). It was also observed that there were no significant yield benefits with N application rates higher than 179 kg·ha−1. During the fall, iWUE was higher under DI (33.57 kg·m−3) than under FI (25.57 kg·m−3); however, iWUE was similar for both irrigation treatments during spring (FI = 14.04 kg·m−3; DI = 15.29 kg·m−3). The N recovery (REC-N) rate was highest with 134 kg·ha−1 N; however, REC-N was similar with 179, 224, and 269 kg·ha−1 N rates during both fall and spring. Therefore, these study results could suggest that DI could be beneficial to tomato production only when applied during early growth stages, but not throughout the growing season. Both yield and efficiency results indicated that the optimum N requirement for open-field fresh-market tomato production in Florida may not exceed 179 kg·ha−1 N.

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Identification and characterization of GLOBE, a major gene controlling fruit shape and impacting fruit size and marketability in tomato

Horticulture Research ◽

10.1038/s41438-021-00574-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Edgar Sierra-Orozco ◽

Reza Shekasteband ◽

Eudald Illa-Berenguer ◽

Ashley Snouffer ◽

Esther van der Knaap ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mutant Allele ◽

Recombinant Inbred Lines ◽

Major Gene ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Snp Array ◽

Interval Mapping ◽

Fruit Shape ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Knock Out ◽

A Genome

AbstractWithin large-fruited germplasm, fruit size is influenced by flat and globe shapes. Whereas flat fruits are smaller and retain better marketability, globe fruits are larger and more prone to cuticle disorders. Commercial hybrids are often developed from crosses between flat and globe shaped parents because flat shape is thought to be dominant and fruit size intermediate. The objectives of this study were to determine the genetic basis of flat/globe fruit shape in large-fruited fresh-market tomato germplasm and to characterize its effects on several fruit traits. Twenty-three advanced single plant selections from the Fla. 8000 × Fla. 8111B cross were selectively genotyped using a genome-wide SNP array, and inclusive composite interval mapping identified a single locus on the upper arm of chromosome 12 associated with shape, which we termed globe. A 238-plant F2 population and 69 recombinant inbred lines for this region from the same parents delimited globe to approximately 392-kilobases. A germplasm survey representing materials from multiple breeding programs demonstrated that the locus explains the flat/globe shape broadly. A single base insertion in an exon of Solyc12g006860, a gene annotated as a brassinosteroid hydroxylase, segregated completely with shape in all populations tested. CRISPR/Cas9 knock out plants confirmed this gene as underlying the globe locus. In silico analysis of the mutant allele of GLOBE among 595 wild and domesticated accessions suggested that the allele arose very late in the domestication process. Fruit measurements in three genetic backgrounds evidenced that globe impacts fruit size and several fruit shape attributes, pedicel length/width, and susceptibility of fruit to weather check. The mutant allele of GLOBE appears mostly recessive for all traits except fruit size where it acts additively.

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