Long-life tomato cultivars growing under the hydroponic Nutrient Film Technique

• Main Authors: Gualberto Ronan, Oliveira Paulo Sérgio Rabelo de, Resende Francisco Vilela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo 2002-01-01
• Series: Scientia Agricola
• Subjects: Lycopersicon esculentum; hidroponic crops; greenhouse; fresh-market tomato
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-90162002000400027

Farmers are interested in hydroponic tomato cultivation because of the high demand of high quality products by the consumers. Three trials here carried out under greenhouse conditions in Marília, SP, Brazil, using the hydroponic nutrient film technique, in order to evaluate yield and quality of long-life salad tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) varieties, during 1998 and 1999. Four varieties (Carmen, Diva, Graziela, and Vita) were tested using a randomized block design, with six replications. The variety x crop season interaction effect was significant, meaning that varieties have distinct performances during the different cropping seasons. The Vita variety presented commercial valid yield, with mean fruit weights higher than the other varieties.