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Heat stress substantially reduces tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) growth and yield globally, thereby jeopardizing food security. DnaJ proteins, constituents of the heat shock protein system, protect cells from diverse environmental stresses as HSP‐70 molecular co‐chaperones. In this study, we demonstrated that AdDjSKI, a serine‐rich DnaJ III protein induced by pathogens, plays an important role in stabilizing photosystem II (PSII) in response to heat stress. Our results revealed that transplastomic tomato plants expressing the AdDjSKI gene exhibited increased levels of total soluble proteins, improved growth and chlorophyll content, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and diminished PSII photoinhibition under elevated temperatures when compared with wild‐type (WT) plants. Intriguingly, these transplastomic plants maintained higher levels of D1 protein under elevated temperatures compared with the WT plants, suggesting that overexpression of AdDjSKI in plastids is crucial for PSII protection, likely due to its chaperone activity. Furthermore, the transplastomic plants displayed lower accumulation of superoxide radical (O2•─) and H2O2, in comparison with the WT plants, plausibly attributed to higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities. This also coincides with an enhanced expression of corresponding genes, including SlCuZnSOD, SlFeSOD, SlAPX2, and SltAPX, under heat stress. Taken together, our findings reveal that chloroplastic expression of AdDjSKI in tomatoes plays a critical role in fruit yield, primarily through a combination of delayed senescence and stabilizing PSII under heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sowing density optimal is rated a less expensive solution for enhancing the output of tomato yield in the background of extending food requirements worldwide. Methods: The main objective of this study is to investigate the sowing density effect on the growth and tomato yield planted in Don Duong district of Lam Dong province, Vietnam. The study was conducted during the spring tomato crop (January to June 2020) with five different sowing densities varying from 33000 to 50000 plants/ha based on drip irrigation system supply approximately 100% of actual evapotranspiration. Result: Results pointed out that among investigated sowing densities, sowing density 45830 plants/ha obtained the optimal fruit yield (OFY) up to 87.8 tons/ha compared with different sowing densities while other observed variations as the number of bunches, fruit weight per plant and diameter were no significant difference. Based on the findings, tomato growers can sow with a density 45830 plants/ha to obtain the OFY thereby contributing to increase profits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing interest in producing organic tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) in high tunnels (HTs) in the southeast United States. HTs are unheated, passively cooled structures that allow tomato growers to harvest high-quality fruit out of season. However, excessive temperatures inside HTs may negatively impact tomato plant growth and fruit yield. Shade nets have been reported to reduce temperatures inside the HTs. Plastic mulch color has also significantly influenced plant growth and yield under high-temperature conditions. This study aimed to determine the effects of shade net color and plastic mulch color on plant growth, fruit yield, and incidence of tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLC) in 'Red Snapper' tomato grown in HTs under elevated temperatures (summer-fall) in southern Georgia, USA. Organic 'Red Snapper' tomato seedlings were transplanted in HTs in 2019 (Season 1) and 2020 (Season 2). The design was a split-plot randomized block where the main plots were externally mounted shade nets (black, silver, and unshaded; 30% shade factor), and the subplots were plastic mulches (black and white). Compared with black mulch, white mulch improved plant height and stem diameter but did not influence fruit yields. Shade nets reduced HT air temperature and root zone temperature (RZT) but did not affect plant height and stem diameter. The diminished photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) under the shade nets reduced marketable fruit yield. Thus, shade nets are not recommended once heat challenges do not limit HT tomato production in Georgia (after about mid-October). Shade nets and plastic mulch inconsistently affected TYLC incidence, severity, and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). Additional fruit yield reductions occurred due to TYLC because the incidence was 100% 6 weeks after transplanting. Preliminary insect data showed that shade net treatments had similar sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) numbers. The high TYLC incidence indicates that 'Red Snapper' may not be suitable for fall HT tomato production in the southeast United States. More research on shading and heat stress management in HT organic tomato production is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycopene is an essential antioxidant found in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) that can inhibit and prevent cell damage in the body. Thus, enhancing lycopene content is one of the crucial objectives in tomato breeding. Efforts should focus on assembling the tomato with high fruit yield and good quality by conducting transgressive segregant selection through plant breeding programs. The study aimed to select tomato lines with the potential for transgressive segregation based on high fruit yield and lycopene content. The research began in an augmented design combined with factors comprising 54 non-repeated tomato lines, compared with four repeated standard cultivars (Mawar, Chung, Karina, and Tymoti). The tomato lines' planting into seven blocks had no repeats, while the check cultivars for comparison engaged in repeated planting in each block. The observations underwent the analysis of variance (ANOVA), path analysis, correlation, heritability (narrow sense), and transgressive segregants. Based on transgressive segregation, the high-yielding tomato lines selected bore analysis for lycopene content. Based on the plant height and productive bunches per plant (directly supporting the fruit yield), the 14 promising transgressive segregant families' selection comprised 10 MC crosses, MC10.10, MC10.4, MC11.4, MC12.3, MC27.12, MC27.7, MC29.4, MC35.7, MC74.12, and MC8.3 and four KM crosses, KM23.2, KM26.1, KM30.5, and KM.5.5. For increased lycopene content, the five F4 families MC10.10, MC27.12, MC35.7, KM23.2, and KM30.5 showed better performance wherein selecting 10 transgressive segregant lines resulted with high lycopene content and fruit yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To seek the optimal combination of water–air for drip irrigation processing tomatoes in Northern Xinjiang, China, field experiments consisted of four irrigation levels, and two types of gas-filling methods were proposed. Throughout the whole growth period, the water consumption by physical aeration and chemical aeration increased by 13.65% and 9.27%, respectively compared with the nonaerated treatment. Under the conditions of physical aeration, the processing tomato fruit yield and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) increased by 8.14% and 4.74%; while by chemical aeration, they increased by 7.91% and 4.61%, respectively. Physical aeration had the most prominent role in increasing the contents of organic acid, soluble solids, soluble sugar, lycopene, and VC in processing tomatoes. The presented indicators show that the effect of physical aeration was better than that of chemical aeration. Physical aeration in combination with different irrigation levels, the 4,950 m3·hm−2 irrigation level gave the highest yield of processing tomato, whereas the highest IWUE was obtained in the 4,500 m3·hm−2 irrigation treatment, and the quality parameters of processing tomatoes at the 4,500 m3·hm−2 irrigation level performed better than those at the 4,950 m3·hm−2 irrigation level. To take into account the requirements of processing tomatoes for maximum IWUE and fruit yield and quality, the entropy weight method was used to determine that the irrigation water volume of 4,500 m3·hm−2 under the conditions of physical aeration can be used as a suitable water and air combination pattern for processing tomatoes in drip irrigation in Northern Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the effects of different irrigation water quality and silicon doses on leaf soil plant analysis development meter readings, chlorophyll content and carotenoid contents of tomato plants. Tybiff Aq tomato seedlings were grown in 3-liter pots filled with 1100 g of 1:1 peatperlite mixture for 70 days. Four different types of irrigation water quality were prepared with the use of sea and tap water. Irrigation waters included i) Full seawater, ii) ½ seawater + ½ tap water, iii) ¼ seawater + ¾ tap water, iv) full tap water (control). Each irrigation water was supplemented with silica gel (SiO2.x H2O) at 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM Si doses. Nutrient solutions were supplied to meet macro and micronutrient requirements of tomato plants. Leaf chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and total chlorophyll contents significantly increased with increasing tap water ratios of the irrigation water. Significant increases were observed in chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and total chlorophyll contents with increasing silicon doses. Such increases achieved with silicon treatments were more remarkable for chlorophyll-a and total chlorophyll contents. Leaf chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and total chlorophyll contents significantly decreased with increasing leaf sodium, chlorine and magnesium contents, but significantly increased with increasing leaf active iron and potassium contents. Leaf chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and total chlorophyll contents increased with increasing leaf calcium contents, but such increases were not significant. Leaf carotenoid contents significantly increased with increasing tap water ratios of the irrigation water. Effects of silicon doses on leaf carotenoid contents varied with the type of irrigation water. The 0.5 mM silicon supplementation into tap water significantly increased carotenoid contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Microbial biofertilizers and algae‐based biostimulants have been recognized for supporting sustainable agriculture. Field experiments were conducted in 2022 and 2023 growing seasons in an organic farm located in Ferrara (Italy) with the aim of evaluating plant growth‐promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) and algae‐based biostimulants (Biost) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The experimental treatments were: (i) two microbial biofertilizers (PGPM_1, PGPM_2) and no inoculated plants (No_PGPM); and (ii) two algae‐based biostimulant rates (0.5% (Biost_0.5%), 1.0% (Biost_1.0%)) and no application (No_Biost). PGPMs were applied at transplanting, while biostimulants at 15 and 30 days after transplanting. Treatments were replicated three times according to a split‐plot experimental design. Plant characteristics were evaluated at 30 days after transplanting in No_Biost treatments. During tomato cultivation, soil plant analysis development (SPAD), nitrogen difference vegetation index (NDVI), leaf area index (LAI) and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) were monitored. Tomato yield was determined. RESULTS: PGPM_2 showed the highest shoot biomass (132.9 g plant−1), plant height (44.7 cm), leaf number (34.0 plant−1) and root biomass (9.22 g plant−1). Intermediate values were observed in PGPM_1, while all parameters were lower in No_PGPM. Both PGPMs achieved higher values of SPAD, NDVI, PPFD and LAI than No_PGPM. Biost_1.0% increased all measured growth parameters followed by Biost_0.5% and No_Biost, respectively. Tomato yield was the highest for PGPM_2–Biost_1.0% (67.2 t ha−1). PGPMs affected fruit size and sugar content, while biostimulants were associated with color and lycopene. CONCLUSION: The application of microbial biofertilizers and algae‐based biostimulants could be part of environment‐friendly practice in organic farming. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We evaluated the effect of Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract (ASE) formulation on tomato under drought stress. • Tomato yielded more when ASE was applied at 5 mL L–1 as a soil drench than as a foliar spray. • Water productivity was maximized at 5 mL L–1 for all soil moisture levels. • Soil or foliar application of ASE at 5 mL L−1 could be regarded as an optimum dose. • ASE at 5 mL L−1 as a soil drench is more effective than its application as a foliar spray. The scarcity of irrigation water is a major threat restricting growth and productivity of almost all agronomic and horticultural crops. The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is no exception. Seaweed extracts are widely used as biostimulants for the improvement of plant growth and development. Two independent pot experiments were conducted to find out the best soil drench or foliar spray dose of a commercial Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract (ASE) formulation (Amino Seaweed, SV Group, Bangkok, Thailand) on growth, physiological and biochemical parameters, fruit yield, quality, and water productivity of tomato under water-deficit stress. The commercial ASE formulation was applied in five doses (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mL L−1) as a soil drench (Experiment 1) or as a foliar spray (Experiment 2) under three soil moisture levels (50, 75, and 100% field capacity [FC]). Severe soil moisture deficit of 50% FC caused a 67 and 52% reduction in fruit yield, 11 and 11% reduction in fruit length, 25 and 29% decrease in leaf relative water content, while total soluble solids content was increased by 38 and 49% compared with 100% FC in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Soil drench or foliar spray of the commercial ASE formulation at 5 mL L−1 was effective at all soil moisture levels. Soil drench of the commercial ASE formulation at 5 mL L−1 resulted in 225% higher fruit yield in comparison to the untreated plants at 50% FC, whereas its application as a foliar spray resulted in 271% higher fruit yield in comparison to the untreated plants subjected to severe water-deficit stress (50% FC). Water productivity was found lower for the untreated plants regardless of soil moisture levels in both application methods; however, it was maximized at 5 mL L–1 for all soil moisture levels. The beneficial effects of 5 mL L–1 ASE formulation dose was also evident in physiological/biochemical traits and fruit quality of tomato regardless of application methods. Tomato yielded more when the commercial ASE formulation was applied at 5 mL L–1 as a soil drench (523.3 g plant–1 fruit yield) rather than as a foliar spray treatment (397.1 g plant–1 fruit yield). The results indicate that (i) 5 mL L−1 could be regarded as an optimum dose of the commercial ASE formulation for tomato applied either as a soil drench or foliar spray and (ii) exogenous application of the commercial ASE formulation at 5 mL L−1 as a soil drench treatment is more efficient, especially in fruit yield improvement, compared with its application as a foliar spray and, therefore, this technique holds promise for tomato cultivation under moderate water-deficit stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato is one of the major economically domesticated crops, and it is extensively used in different ways and purposes worldwide. Cell metabolism is the central core of all the biological processes to sustain life including cell growth, differentiation, maintenance, and response to environmental stress. To evaluate how genetic engineering can improve tomato fruit metabolome, the transcriptomic and metabolomic datasets of two transgenic tomatoes (SlMX1 overexpression and RNAi lines) have been compared with wild-type. The combined results demonstrated that the constitutive expression of SlMX1 not only increased trichome formation, carotenoids, and terpenoids as has been stated in several studies, but has also up- and down-regulated the expression of multiple genes related to cell growth (cell wall turnover), primary (carbohydrates, vitamins, and phytohormones), and secondary (phenylpropanoids, carotenoids, and terpenoids) metabolism, cell signaling, and stress responses. These changes in gene expression due to the constitutive expression of SlMX1 promote the most important agroeconomic traits such as fruit yield and quality, biosynthesis of health-promoting phytochemicals (including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins), and finally, activate resistance to Botrytis cinerea and repress the expression of over-ripening-related genes, thus extending the fruit shelf-life. In conclusion, the traits improvement achieved by SlMX1 overexpression can be harnessed in molecular breeding programs to engineer fruit size and yield, induce health-promoting secondary metabolites, promote fungal resistance, and finally extend the fruit shelf-life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objective: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most important economic and widely used crops in horticulture. It is a self-fertilizing and diploid plant and has 24 pairs of chromosomes (2n=2x=24). The life cycle of this plant is one year, and it is cultivated in greenhouses and fields. There are many varieties of tomatoes that differ from each other in terms of plant growth, quality, fruit shape, and other traits. Tomato fruit has a high nutritional value, consisting of minerals, vitamins, fibers, citric acid, β-Carotene and ascorbic acid. Diversity and selection are the two main pillars of any reformation program, and choosing is based on the existence of desirable diversity in the reformation materials under discussion. To produce varieties of tomatoes with high productivity, quality and resistance, breeders need evaluation of genetic diversity, identification and introduction of new genotypes. In other words, systematic study and evaluation of germplasm is of great importance for current and future agronomic and genetic improvement of the crop. Different methods are used to estimate genetic diversity and group genotypes, and the evaluation of morphological and physiological characteristics can be considered as the first step in the investigation of genetic diversity. Different genotypes of tomato differ in terms of morphological and physiological traits, and fruit yield is influenced by some of these traits. Therefore, the selection of criteria other than fruit yield, which have more stability than fruit yield, can be considered as a selection guide in the selection of desirable cultivars. Accordingly, this study was conducted with the aim of investigating the genetic diversity and grouping of tomato genotypes (53 genotypes) based on morphological and physiological traits. Material and Methods: In the present study, 53 genotypes of tomato plants were investigated using a randomized complete block design with three replications under greenhouse conditions at the Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. After disinfecting and planting the seeds in the pot, sampling of the seedlings was performed. Morphological traits such as plant height, stem diameter, fresh and dry weight of the plant, number of side branches, number of leaves, root length, fresh and dry weight of the organ air, fresh and dry weight of roots, fruit number, fruit yield, and physiological traits including proline content, photosynthetic pigments (including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid), and total phenolic and flavonoid compounds were measured. Furthermore, the obtained data were subjected to variance analysis, mean comparison, correlation coefficient, factor analysis, and cluster analysis using suitable software. Results: After analyzing the data, the results of the evaluation of variance showed that the difference of the studied genotypes in terms of all traits except proline trait was significant at the probability level of 1%. Estimation of the correlation coefficients between the studied traits showed a significant correlation between most of the studied traits and fruit yield. Further, the results of the investigation into factors showed that 6 factors explained more than 77% of the total variance, so that the contribution of the first to sixth factors was 24, 18, 14, 9, 7, and 6% of the total changes, respectively. For better interpretation, larger factor coefficients for each factor were considered significant. Because the largest factor coefficients among the coefficients of each factor indicate the attribute or attribute that plays the greatest role in those factors, the factors were named accordingly. In this way, the first factor was named the fruit yield factor, the second the photosynthesis factor, the third the phenolic factor, the fourth the root weight factor, the fifth the proline factor, and the sixth the stem diameter factor. Based on the results of the cluster analysis, it was observed that the genotypes were significantly different in terms of the measured morphological and physiological traits and they were placed in 3 different groups, each of which had 30, 19, and 4 genotypes, respectively, and the genotypes in the group Third, in terms of studied traits, they were better to other groups. Conclusion: In general, based on the analysis, the genotypes were significantly different in terms of the measured traits. This article shows that there is a suitable diversity among the studied genotypes and it is possible to select based on these characteristics among the studied genotypes and the selection can be effective in their improvement programs. By estimating the phenotypic correlation coefficients, it was found that the fruit yield trait had the most positive and significant correlation with the number of fruits and the amount of photosynthetic pigments. Therefore, these traits can be considered in tomato fruit yield genetic improvement programs. Considering that the average of most of the traits studied for the genotypes belonging to the third cluster (13, 15, 45 and 46) was higher than the total average and the said genotypes were excellent in terms of developmental and physiological parameters compared with other genotypes, the top genotypes identified in this research can be considered and used in future breeding studies in this valuable plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CONSTANS (CO) and CONSTANS-LIKE (COL) transcription factors have been known to regulate a series of cellular processes including the transition from the vegetative growth to flower development in plants. However, their role in regulating fruit yield in tomato is poorly understood. Result: In this study, the tomato ortholog of Arabidopsis CONSTANS, SlCOL1, was shown to play key roles in the control of flower development and fruit yield. Suppression of SlCOL1 expression in tomato was found to lead to promotion of flower and fruit development, resulting in increased tomato fruit yield. On the contrary, overexpression of SlCOL1 disturbed flower and fruit development, and significantly reduced tomato fruit yield. Genetic and biochemical evidence indicated that SlCOL1 controls inflorescence development by directly binding to the promoter region of tomato inflorescence-associated gene SINGLE-FLOWER TRUSS (SFT) and negatively regulating its expression. Additionally, we found that SlCOL1 can also negatively regulate fruit size in tomato. Conclusions: Tomato SlCOL1 binds to the promoter of the SFT gene, down-regulates its expression, and plays a key role in reducing the fruit size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar made from crop residues has been shown to improve soil texture, soil porosity and soil structure. It can enhance fertilizer utilization, reduce leaching loses and hence improve nitrogen supply for plant growth. Utilization of biochar in preparation of potting substrates can enhance growth and yields of greenhouse tomato. A study was carried out to test the influence of rice husks biochar on substrate properties, growth and yield of greenhouse tomato. The experiment was carried as a factorial in completely randomized design with two factors: four biochar levels and two soil types, replicated three times. The biochar levels were volume ratios of 0 biochar: 1 soil (0Biochar), 0.25 biochar: 0.75 soil (0.25Biochar), 0.5 biochar: 0.5 soil (0.5Biochar) and 0.75 biochar: 0.25 soil (0.75Biochar). The two soil types used were the well drained deep red friable soil and imperfectly drained dark brown clay soil obtained from the University farm. Tomato Anna F1 was grown in four-liter plastic pots containing about 3 kg of soil-biochar mixture. Data were collected on the plant growth parameters of plant height, number of leaves per plant and plant dry weight upto the 8th - 9th week after transplanting, when fruit ripening began. The chlorophyll index of the leaves were measured using the SPAD meter. At harvesting, fresh weight and number of the fruits were determined. Incorporating biochar into potting substrate at 0.25-0.75 levels significantly increased evapotranspiration during early vegetative growth. This was indicative of biochar changing substrate properties mainly through significant reduction of bulk density and possibly increasing porosity. Biochar levels of 0.25-0.75 resulted in significant increases in vegetative growth and fruit yield of tomato. Adding biochar to the pot substrate increased tomato plant height, plant dry weight and fruit fresh weight by 21- 34%, 50-64% and 49%-56%, respectively. The increase in vegetative growth and fruit yield at 0.25-0.75 biochar levels was attributed to the positive effect of biochar on substrate physical properties. Plant height and number of leaves per plant had a significant linear relationship whose slope, the rate of increase in plant height with increase in number of leaves was not influenced by biochar levels. Biochar enhanced growth without changing the ratio of plant height to number of leaves of tomato. It is concluded that incorporation of biochar made from rice husks at 0.25 level can enhance greenhouse production in both red and clay soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to determine the types of gene action of different yield-related traits in tomato and the combining ability in four advanced lines. The heterotic response in tomato hybrids was also assessed. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) among all the traits. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for all chosen traits were computed using Griffing's approach of diallel. Combining ability revealed the additive and non-additive genetic effects for all selected traits of advanced lines. T-1360 was found as a good general combiner for the number of cluster plant-1, average fruit weight, number of flowers cluster-1, fruit length, number of fruit cluster-1, and yield. The variance of the GCA to SCA ratio was found less than 0.5 for each trait, which confirmed the presence of non-additive gene action. The results revealed higher magnitudes of phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV) than the genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV). The high magnitudes of heritability (72% to 92%) and genetic advance (36.63% to 139.72%) were found for the number of cluster plant-1, average fruit weight (g), the number of fruits cluster-1, and yield. Among all crosses, the cross ST-100 × T-1360 showed maximum positive heterosis over the mid parent (566.6%) and the better parent (455.5%). The identified tomato genotypes can be used further in different tomato breeding programs to improve fruit yield and other yield-related traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is crucial for agriculture and needs to be used effectively due to climate change and drought in the Mediterranean region. For this reason, to adapt to water deficit scenarios, deficit irrigation applications are increasing in importance. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of varying levels of irrigation on growth parameters and concentration of nutrients in tomato plants grown under greenhouse conditions. The irrigation schedule used in this study was designed to include 100% (control), 90%, 80% and 70% of evaporation from the class-A pan. Water deficit was found to cause a stress effect in tomato plants, which was reflected in changes in the physiological function plants, such as flowering and early ripening. In addition, the SPAD values were examined, for which the lowest value of the green color intensity of the leaves was 47.3 (I3) and the highest was 48.7 (I4). However, the results of statistical analyses show that the difference was not significant. We also observed that the height values of tomato plants were the highest in the period of seedling and fruit ripening under full irrigation. Furthermore, analysis of the macronutrient content of tomato leaves showed that the obtained values were below the threshold values recommended for manganese. Based on these and similar studies, we believe that the application of water stress is most effective during the phases in which the plants are least affected. We believe that determining the periods during which tomato or any other crop is be affected by the least water stress will be more accurate for both plant development and economic production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verticillium dahliae (Vd) and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) are two major fungal pathogens that infect tomato plants, causing significant challenges in their control since both pathogens can persist in the soil for several years even in the absence of a host plant and no effective fungicides are available at present. This study investigated the efficacy of two biocontrol formulations, Clonotri (containing Trichoderma and Clonostachys microorganisms) and Strepse (comprising Streptomyces and Pseudomonas microorganisms), against Vd and Fol and their impact on tomato fruit quality and yield under greenhouse conditions. The pathogenicity experiment demonstrated that the Clonotri formulation, containing Trichoderma and Clonostachys spores, significantly reduced Fusarium wilt disease by 32% compared to the control group. However, in the Vd pathogenicity experiment, the formulations did not exhibit disease reduction, although treatment with Strepse, containing Streptomyces and Pseudomonas microorganisms, resulted in a preserved total fruit number when compared to uninfected plants. Analysis of fruit quality attributes revealed no significant differences among the various interventions. Furthermore, Fol infection in the first fruit set significantly increased fruit firmness, while Vd infection resulted in elevated levels of total soluble solids in fruits. These findings demonstrate that the evaluated biocontrol formulations provide a degree of protection against fungal wilt pathogens in tomato plants and can increase yield in greenhouse conditions while having minimal impact on overall fruit quality attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The continuous growth of the global population and the increase in the amount of arid land has severely constrained agricultural crop production. To solve this problem, many researchers have attempted to increase productivity through the efficient distribution of energy; however, the direct relationship between the plant vasculature, specifically phloem development, and crop yield is not well established. Here, we demonstrate that an optimum increase in phloem‐transportation capacity by reducing SIJUL expression leads to improved sink strength in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). SIJUL, a negative regulator of phloem development, suppresses the translation of a positive regulator of phloem development, SlSMXL5. The suppression of SlJUL increases the number of phloem cells and sucrose transport, but only an optimal reduction of SlJUL function greatly enhances sink strength in tomato, improving fruit setting, and yield contents by 37% and 60%, respectively. We show that the increment in phloem cell number confers spare transport capacity. Our results suggest that the control of phloem‐transport capacity within the threshold could enhance the commitment of photosynthates to instigate yield improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementing sustainable crop protection practices is crucial to protect global harvests and ensure high-quality food supplies. While priming is an established method in seed production for the fortification of plants against various stresses, it is not yet a standard practice in transplant cultivation. Thus, we evaluated the long-term effects of thermopriming—a heat-based priming technique—on the growth, development, and fruit yield of tomato plants. Following a recovery period of about six weeks for thermoprimed plants without stress inducers, we subjected them to subsequent salt stress to ascertain the persistence of the priming effects. Additionally, we compared the efficacy of thermopriming with benzothiadiazole (BTH), a chemical elicitor, in enhancing plant resilience to abiotic stress. While BTH application negatively impacted both plant growth and fruit health, thermopriming showed no such adverse effects on these parameters. Instead, thermopriming initially enhanced the plant defense mechanisms by increasing the accumulation of protective phenols and flavonoids in the leaves. Interestingly, while thermopriming did not alter the response to salt stress, it notably strengthened the overall resilience of the plants. Our findings underscore both the potential and temporal constraints of thermopriming memory. Nonetheless, primed plants exhibited temporarily increased stress tolerance, offering a means to safeguard the offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at investigating the effects of two irrigation regimes (full and deficit irrigation), combined with four different fertilizer rates on fruit yield, irrigation water and fertilizer use efficiency of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), grown in unheated greenhouse under mulched drip irrigation and fertigation. For two consecutive years (2019–2020), experiments were conducted on the experimental field in Chelopechene of ISSAPP „Nikola Pushkarov“, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Two irrigation rates (100% and 60% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc)), under four fertilizer rates (unfertilized, 80% NPK, 100% NPK, 120% NPK), have been served as a treatment. The results showed that greater fruit yields were obtained in fully irrigated treatments. Application of the highest fertilizer rate (120% NPK) results in highest average total yield, both in fully irrigated (104.37 t ha-1) and deficit irrigation (78.02 t ha-1) treatments. Irrigation water use efficiency was higher under deficit irrigation and its maximum value (34.87 kg m-3 for 2020 ) was obtained with the highest fertilser rate trough fertigation. The highest nitrogen use efficiency (672.14 kg kg-1) was obtained in the fully irrigated treatment with the highest fertilizer rate. The experimental results obtained in both years indicated that drip fertigation technology with appropriately selected levels of irrigation and fertilization could improve fruit yield and water and nutrient use efficiency of greenhouse tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wide range of components, including amino acids, small peptides, and osmoactive substances (proline, glycine betaine), makes protein hydrolysate a promising biostimulant type, encouraging plant productivity both under smooth or adverse environmental conditions. Plantbased biostimulants can boost growth, yield, quality, and bioactive compounds in a variety of crops. The present study examined the effects of an enzymatic protein hydrolysate formulation (Activeg) applied different times (3, 6, or 9), compared to an untreated control, on production and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) 'miniplum' fruits grown in a greenhouse during the autumn-winter season. This study was carried out at the University of Federico II, Department of Agriculture (40°49' N, 14°20' E). A randomized complete block design was used to distribute the experimental treatments in the field; the obtained data were analyzed using ANOVA. The biostimulant applied 3 or 6 times led to the highest yields, whereas 6 or 9 sprayings enhanced fruit firmness, dry residue, soluble solids and antioxidants. The biostimulant treatment repeated 6 times resulted in the best overall tomato performances in terms of fruit yield, quality and antioxidant content, in the autumn-winter season, which suggests the chance to reduce the chemical fertilizer input, thus contributing to the vegetable crop system sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the current context of reducing chemical N input in agriculture, it is important to investigate better N allocation to different growth stages of crops. The plants were subjected to sufficient and reduced soil water regimes in interaction with two N application proportions applied at the vegetative and reproductive growth stages of tomato plants, respectively. In terms of the soil water impact, across the N proportion treatments, the reduced water treatments significantly decreased leaf and biomass growth by 33% and meanwhile remarkably reduced stomatal conductance of leaves, which significantly decreased water consumption by 41%. Consequently, plant WUE markedly decreased by 10.4%. The N uptake and fresh yield were considerably reduced by 37.5% and 39.3%, respectively. Regarding the N proportion effect across the soil water treatments, the lower N application of 30% at the vegetative growth stage significantly enhanced photosynthesis products allocated to fruits, which substantially improved the fresh yield by 32.9%. Furthermore, it significantly improved N accumulation by 9.0% compared to the higher N application of 70% at this stage. Conclusively, when given the certain amount of N supply, the N allocation should be reduced at the vegetative growth stage to achieve high yield and N uptake in tomato production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome the scarcity of fresh water, researchers have turned to investigating different techniques that enable using saline water to irrigate crops, aiming to increase the efficiency of using available water resources. A glasshouse experiment was conducted to investigate the yield responses of grafted and non-grafted (self-rooted) tomato plants grown hydroponically under three levels of water salinity (2.5, 6.0, and 9.5 dS m−1). Three tomato varieties (Ghandowra-F1, Forester-F1, and Feisty-Red) were grafted onto five rootstocks (Maxifort, Unifort, Dynafort, Vivifort, and Beaufort). The implemented treatments were studied in terms of tomato fruit yield and quality parameters. Although increasing the concentration of salts in the nutrient solution led to a decrease in fruit yield, the moderate salinity level (S-2: 6.0 dS m−1) showed its superiority over both low salinity (S-1: 2.5 dS m−1) and high salinity (S-3: 9.5 dS m−1) in terms of tomato yield parameters. The studied rootstocks did not significantly improve the tomato fruit yield, but the interaction between the grafting combinations and salinity was significant for both production and quality. More specifically, tomato plants grafted onto the rootstocks "Vivifort and Beaufort" rendered the highest yield at a low salinity level (S-1: 2.5 dS m−1) and a moderate salinity level (S-2: 6.0 dS m−1), respectively, while at high salinity (S-3: 9.5 dS m−1), grafting did not improve tomato productivity, irrespective of the rootstock. These results confirm that tomatoes can be successfully grown under hydroponic systems using salinity levels of up to 6.0 dS m−1 without sacrificing fruit yield and quality. Among the studied tomato varieties, Feisty-Red was found to be appropriate for hydroponic production. The results also demonstrated that Vivifort and Beaufort rootstocks are suitable for grafting hydroponic tomatoes under low and moderate salinity levels, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of iron-efficient rootstocks can be a sustainable way to enhance iron (Fe) fruit content in tomato. A hybrid tomato variety was grafted on a genotyped population of recombinant inbred lines derived from Solanum pimpinellifolium, and compared with self- and non-grafted controls under low iron (5.2 µM) growing conditions. Rootstock effects on total fruit yield, fruit [Fe] and yield Fe content (FeUEc) were the target traits; other minerals were also investigated by quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate gene analyses. The rootstock genotype affected fruit concentrations of Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Si and Al. Most rootstocks increased FeUEc. Fruit and leaf [Fe] and FeUEc were genetically complex, involving epistatic interactions. Six and eight QTLs were detected for these traits, respectively, by multiple QTL mapping. Two kinds of relevant genes were found among candidates within QTLs for iron related traits: those coding for secretory proteins specific of the tomato xylem sap under iron deficiency, and others having a role in iron uptake such as TOMLHA1, FRO1, NRAMP2, FER and MYB72. Detected QTLs might reflect differences in the regulatory regions of those relevant genes, more than in their coding sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: High annual tomato yields are achieved using high-tech greenhouse production systems. Large greenhouses typically rely only on one central weather station per compartment to steer their internal climate, ignoring possible microclimate conditions within the greenhouse itself. Methods: In this study, we analysed spatial variation in temperature and vapour pressure deficit in a commercial tomato greenhouse setting for three consecutive years. Multiple sensors were placed within the crop canopy, which revealed microclimate gradients. Results and discussion: Different microclimates were present throughout the year, with seasonal (spring - summer - autumn) and diurnal (day - night) variations in temperature (up to 3 °C, daily average) and vapour pressure deficit (up to 0.6 kPa, daily average). The microclimate effects influenced in part the variation in plant and fruit growth rate and fruit yield - maximum recorded difference between two locations with different microclimates was 0.4 cm d-1 for stem growth rate, 0.6 g d-1 for fruit growth rate, 80 g for truss mass at harvest. The local microclimate effect on plant growth was always larger than the bulk climate variation measured by a central sensor, as commonly done in commercial greenhouses. Quality attributes of harvested tomato fruit did not show a significant difference between different microclimate conditions. In conclusion, we showed that even small, naturally occurring, differences in local environment conditions within a greenhouse may influence the rate of plant and fruit growth. These findings could encourage the sector to deploy larger sensor networks for optimal greenhouse climate control. A sensor grid covering the whole area of the greenhouse is a necessity for climate control strategies to mitigate suboptimal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has emerged as a crucial global issue that significantly threatens the survival of plants. In particular, low temperature (LT) is one of the critical environmental factors that influence plant morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes during both the vegetative and reproductive growth stages. LT, including abrupt drops in temperature, as well as winter conditions, can cause detrimental effects on the growth and development of tomato plants, ranging from sowing, transplanting, truss appearance, flowering, fertilization, flowering, fruit ripening, and yields. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the comprehensive mechanisms underlying the adaptation and acclimation of tomato plants to LT, from the morphological changes to the molecular levels. In this review, we discuss the previous and current knowledge of morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes, which contain vegetative and reproductive parameters involving the leaf length (LL), plant height (PH) stem diameter (SD), fruit set (FS), fruit ripening (FS), and fruit yield (FY), as well as photosynthetic parameters, cell membrane stability, osmolytes, and ROS homeostasis via antioxidants scavenging systems during LT stress in tomato plants. Moreover, we highlight recent advances in the understanding of molecular mechanisms, including LT perception, signaling transduction, gene regulation, and fruit ripening and epigenetic regulation. The comprehensive understanding of LT response provides a solid basis to develop the LT-resistant varieties for sustainable tomato production under the ever-changing temperature fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the combined effects of standard soil fertilization, composted animal manure, and foliar fertilization on tomato yield, soil nutrient content, and soil biological properties under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted from March to October 2023 using a completely randomized block design with four replications. The treatments included: 1) Control (no fertilization), 2) Standard soil fertilization (30 kg N/da, 8 kg P2O5/da, 40 kg K2O/da), 3) Standard soil fertilization + composted animal manure (2 t/da), 4) Standard soil fertilization + foliar fertilization (1 kg 17-17-17/100 liters of water every 20 days), and 5) Standard soil fertilization + compost + foliar fertilization. Tomato seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Roma) were transplanted into pots filled with clay soil. Throughout the experiment, soil moisture content was maintained at field capacity. Plants were harvested on October 30, 2023, and data on fruit yield, soil nutrient content (NPK), and soil biological properties (microbial biomass C, CO2 production, and dehydrogenase enzyme activity) were recorded. The highest yield (4.5 kg/plant) was observed in the treatment combining standard soil fertilization, composted animal manure, and foliar fertilization, representing a 275% increase compared to the control (1.2 kg/plant). The standard soil fertilization treatment alone yielded 2.8 kg/plant (133.3% increase), while the combination with composted animal manure yielded 3.5 kg/plant (191.7% increase), and with foliar fertilization, 3.9 kg/plant (225% increase). Soil analyses showed significant increases in available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the combined treatments. The highest biological properties were also recorded in the combined treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At a time when growers have to increase food production, while facing many environmental challenges, biostimulants and plant defence stimulators (PDS) may help reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and to promote agriculture that is more respectful of the environment. For organic farming, they may contribute to increasing plant resilience and crop productivity. Several studies have shown that plant-derived protein hydrolysates may increase nutrient use efficiency and promote plant resistance to abiotic or biotic stresses. We therefore hypothesized that soy protein hydrolysates increase tomato growth and productivity, while promoting plant disease resistance. Our results showed that one or two drench applications of soy protein hydrolysates (SPH13 and SPH18 at 10 g L−1) to the growing medium increased tomato ('Micro Tom') plant growth and fruit production, while one studied hydrolysate enriched in glycine (SPH18) increased the expression levels of PR1 and PR8, two defence-related genes. Although no significant effect was observed on Botrytis cinerea resistance of Micro Tom plants, SPHs significantly increased 'M82' plant resistance to foliar inoculation with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, which further confirmed the systemic activation of plant defence mechanisms by SPHs in tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial diseases are a major cause of yield loss in tomato plants worldwide, and there is a need to identify strategies for control of these diseases. Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum (RS) and bacterial spot caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv vesicatoria (Xav) are amongst the bacterial diseases affecting tomato crops. The current study investigates Euphorbia hirta (E. hirta) methanol extract (EHM) for its antibacterial activity against RS, and Xav induced diseases in tomato plants, along with its biostimulant potential in increasing fruit yield. EHM at 1280 mg/L exhibited 90% inhibition in the growth of both RS and Xav bacteria. Further, evaluation of EHM on Arka Vikas, a susceptible tomato variety, showed that pre-treatment of 15 days and 45 days tomato plants with 1280 mg/L EHM exhibited moderate resistance to bacterial wilt and spot disease, respectively, with increased tomato yield and improved chlorophyll b levels compared to control plants. The effectiveness of EHM in increasing fruit yield was further confirmed using field evaluation on 'Namdhari NS 538' variety of tomato plants. A 3.5-fold increase in numbers and weight of tomato was observed with foliar application of EHM (1280 mg/L). A significant reduction in fruit spoilage along with an increase in mRNA level of ethylene receptor factor (ERF1) was also observed. The study is the first to demonstrate the cost-effective and eco-friendly antibacterial and biostimulant potential of EHM (1280 mg/L) for tomato plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The initial yield was increased with vertical training if compared to horizontal one. • The plant growth was increased with vertical training if compared to horizontal one. • Photosynthetic rate varied depending on the leaf position between the two directions. • The auxin and CKs concentrations in plants were different between the two directions. Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate whether vertical or horizontal training of the main stem of the determinate-type processing tomato 'Shuho' (Solanum lycopersicum L.) through physical stimulation affects its yield, growth, and physiological characteristics. There was no difference in the total fruit yield and fruit number per plant between the two training directions, but fruit yield, fruit number at 11 weeks after transplanting, and the marketable fruit percent were higher in vertically-trained plants. Furthermore, the stem length increased, the stem diameter decreased, and the lateral shoots at the sixth to seventh and first to fourth nodes were longer in vertically-trained plants due to a positive association between lateral shoot elongation and the concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid, isopentenyl adenine riboside, and isopentenyl adenine. Vertical training, if compared to horizontal one, also resulted in an increased leaf area and photosynthetic rate in the seventh true leaf, bleeding sap rate of the xylem, and dry weights and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents of the leaf, stem, upper lateral shoots, and roots. These results suggest that vertical training of the main stem is more efficient than horizontal training for increasing the marketable fruit ratio and initial fruit yield of processing tomatoes because it induces morphological changes and increased vegetative growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Exogenous silicon application effect on drip-irrigated greenhouse tomato was explored. • Drought-salt stress significantly reduced tomato growth and physiological characteristics. • Exogenous silicon application improved yield by 6.5−17.7% under drought-salt stress. • Silicon application increased total soluble solids, vitamin C, soluble sugars and lycopene content. Improving crop productivity in drought-stressed and salt-affected regions is the key to promoting sustainable agriculture. Silicon is considered to improve the stress tolerance of crops, but how exogenous silicon application affects the fruit yield and quality of tomato under combined drought and salt stress remains unclear. A greenhouse experiment was conducted over two consecutive growing seasons (autumn 2021 and spring 2022) to investigate the effects of exogenous silicon application on leaf greenness, photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, fruit yield and quality of drip-fertigated greenhouse tomato under various drought and salt stresses. There were three irrigation levels: I 1 (90–100% θ f , where θ f is the field capacity), I 2 (70%–80% θ f) and I 3 (50%–60% θ f), two soil salinity levels: S 0 (0.1%) and S 1 (0.4%), and two silicon application rates: T 0 (0 mmol L−1) and T 1 (2.4 mmol L−1), resulting in a total of 12 treatments with three replicates. The results showed that the combined drought and salt stress significantly reduced leaf silicon content, plant height, leaf area index, aboveground biomass, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance of tomato plants, while the exogenous silicon application promoted these parameters. Irrigation level, salinity level, silicon rate and the interaction of irrigation level and salinity level had significant effects on fruit yield. Compared to S 0, S 1 decreased fruit yield by 18.42%, 17.91% and 20.64% under I 1 , I 2 and I 3 , respectively. Exogenous silicon application significantly improved fruit yield by 6.52% (I 3 S 0) - 17.73% (I 2 S 1). Irrigation level, salinity level and silicon rate had inconsistent effects on fruit quality. Exogenous silicon application significantly increased total soluble solids, Vitamin C, soluble sugars and lycopene content, without significant effect on titratable acid. The lower irrigation level and higher salinity level resulted in better fruit quality. The path analysis showed that leaf silicon content, net photosynthetic rate, lycopene, average fruit weight had significant direct positive effects on fruit yield. The results are informative for improving drip-fertigated greenhouse tomato productivity and quality under drought-stressed and salt-affected conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiments were conducted on tomato plants to study the interactive responses of water levels (W70%: 70% of water consumption and W90%: 90% water consumption) and nitrogen rates (N100%: 100% of recommended and N80%:80% of N1.0) under two straw mulching conditions (NS; no straw introduced and WS: with buried straw layer) on growth and physiological parameters for two fruit growing years to assess the interactive responses of fertigation under buried straw layer on the changes in plant fresh and dry biomass, roots biomass, photosynthesis rate (PN), stomatal conductance (GS) and chlorophyll fluorescence of tomato plants. Buried straw layer was proved to improve plant biomass, photosynthesis rate and other physiological traits such as chlorophyll contents (Chl), maximum electron transport rate (ETRmax), maximum quantum yield (FV/FM) and GS under the lower fertilizer (N80%) and irrigation levels (W70%). However, increasing fertilizer and irrigation level decreased these parameters significantly (p <.05 to p <.001) under buried straw layer. Conversely, increased fertilizer (N100%) and irrigation (W90%) levels increased these parameters significantly (p <.05 to p <.001) under no straw condition. The overall findings revealed that buried straw layer could relieve stress developed by limited irrigation water and fertilizer and benefit plant growth, physiological parameters and fruit yield of tomato plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting is a technique that improves tomato productivity (Solanum lycopersicum L.) if the rootstock/scion combination is adequate. In Mexico, the seed of the rootstock is imported, it is expensive and, therefore, limited. In order to identify outstanding germplasm with potential as a rootstock, two experiments were established to evaluate 10 wild relative accessions from the cultivated tomato. The hypothesis was that there are wild germplasm accessions capable of increasing yield. Eight accessions of S. habrochaites Knapp & Spooner, two of S. pimpinellifolium L. and the commercial checks 'Maxifort' and 'Multifort' (S. habrochaites x S. lycopersicum) were evaluated as rootstocks, and 'El Cid' and 'Sun7705' as scions. A randomized complete block design with three replications and 10 plants per experimental unit were used, wherein the treatments consisted of the rootstock/graft combinations. Twelve variables were measured and statistical differences were observed between treatments in most of them. The outstanding rootstocks combined with 'El Cid' were the collections LA2409, LA1223, LA2158, LA1777, LA2167 and LA1576, these improved the yield in 17% average; LA2409, LA1223, GH08 and LA0373 with 'Sun 7705' increased productivity by 24% and surpassed commercial rootstocks by up to 41%. There are wild relatives of the cultivated tomato with potential to be used as a rootstock, since they improve fruit yield in comparison with the ungrafted and self-grafted plants. The accessions LA2409 and LA1223 showed stability in both scions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High planting densities achieve high light interception and harvestable yield per area but at the expense of product quality. This study aimed to maintain high light interception without negative impacts on fruit quality. Dwarf tomato was grown at four densities in a climate-controlled room--at two constant densities (high and low) and two dynamic spacing treatments (maintaining 90% and 75% ground coverage by decreasing planting density in 3-4 steps)--resulting in ~100, 19, 54, and 41 plants/m² averaged over 100 days of cultivation, respectively. Constant high density resulted in the highest light use efficiency (LUE; 7.7 g fruit fresh weight per mol photons incident on the canopy) and the highest harvestable fruit yield (11.1 kg/m²) but the lowest fruit size and quality. Constant low density resulted in the lowest LUE and yield (2.3 g/mol and 3.2 kg/m², respectively), but higher fruit size and quality than high density. Compared to low density, maintaining 90% ground coverage increased yield (9.1 kg/m²) and LUE (6.4 g/mol). Maintaining 75% ground coverage resulted in a 7.2 kg/m² yield and 5.1 g/mol LUE. Both dynamic spacing treatments attained the same or slightly reduced fruit quality compared to low density. Total plant weight per m² increased with planting density and saturated at a constant high density. Assimilate shortage at the plant level and flower abortion lowered harvestable fruit yield per plant, sweetness, and acidity under constant high density. Harvestable fruit yield per plant was the highest under dynamic spacing and low density. Under constant high density, morphological responses to lower light availability per plant--i.e., higher specific leaf area, internode elongation, and increased slenderness--coincided with the improved whole-plant LUE (g plant dry weight per mol photons). We conclude that a constant high planting density results in the highest harvestable fruit yield per area, but with reduced fruit quality. Dynamic spacing during cultivation produces the same fruit quality as constant low density, but with more than double the harvestable yield per area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) is a widely cultivated vegetable crop worldwide, including in Fiji. However, the suitability of tomato cultivation under greenhouse conditions in the central region of Fiji, which experiences salinity issues, remains unclear. Methods: A pot experiment was conducted at the Instructional Agricultural Farm Complex of the College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Fiji National University, Fiji, to determine the effect of different levels of salinity on the growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) varieties. The experiment included two factors: three tomato varieties (V1= Melrose; V2= Alton; V3= Alafua Large) and four levels of NaCl salinity (T1= Control; T2= 2 dSm-1; T3= 4 dSm-1 and T4= 8 dSm-1) randomized thrice in a randomized complete block design. The effects of various varieties and salinity levels on tomato yield were studied in this experiment. Result: The results revealed that variety Alafua Large performed comparatively better in all cases. This recorded maximum fruit length (4.22 cm), fruit breadth (3.31 cm), individual fruit weight (45.60 g), number of fruits (7.83) and fruit yield (352.10 g) whereas Alton recorded the minimum of the above yield attributes. In the case of the combined effect of variety and salinity, Alafua Large showed better yield (432.17 g and 394.51 g) per plant than the other varieties when combined with the lower salinity level i.e., EC 2 dSm-1 and 4 dSm-1, respectively. The yield of tomato varieties declined with the increasing salinity level condition. The yield of Alafua Large was 194.54 g when applied with the highest level of salinity i.e., EC 8 dSm-1 and the yield of Alton was 64.69 g which was the lowest yield among the varieties with the highest level of salinity condition. Therefore, from the results, Alafua Large is comparatively more salt tolerant than the other varieties which were studied in this experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nitrogen plays a crucial role in growth cycling and development, thereby influencing the plant growth and productivity. Understanding the interactions between nitrogen uptake with different irrigation regimes and source of nitrogen fertilizers could provide a valuable insight for optimizing tomato production. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effect of nitrogen uptake on tomato production under different nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation regimes. Methods: The field experiment was carried out during 2022-2023 in split plot design with two irrigation main plots treatments and five different nitrogen fertilizer subplot treatments. Irrigation treatments consisted of 0.8 and 1.0 IW/CPE ratio and the nitrogen fertilizer treatments comprised of conventional urea, neem coated urea, ammonium sulfate, nano-urea and vermicompost. Result: A higher nitrogen uptake was observed in the treatment combination of 0.8 and 1.0 IW/CPE ratio with vermicompost and nano-urea fertilizer applied treatments. Additionally, optimal irrigation conditions positively influenced nitrogen uptake and subsequent tomato fruit yield. This finding emphasizes the importance of considering nitrogen uptake when determining nitrogen fertilizer rates and irrigation management strategies for tomato production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic vegetable production is needed worldwide to minimize the use of inorganic fertilizers, protect the environment, and produce healthy food. Accordingly, in the present study, the effects of organic granules on the productivity, quality, and nutrient uptake level of tomatoes and the fertility and microbial population of the soil were determined. Briefly, organic NPK granules and organic N, P and K-rich sources were compared with synthetic NPK granules and synthetic fertilizers administered at 100 and 75% of the recommended fertilizer levels. Among the various treatments applied, treatment with 100% of the recommended NPK using the synthetic NPK granules (Urea, DAP and MOP) led to higher growth, yield attributes, and yield (fruit yield, - 24.21 t/ha and stover yield, -15.01 t/ha) of tomato. This treatment also enhanced the nutrient uptake by tomato. However, quality parameters, such as total soluble solids (6.64%), titrable acidity (0.62%), ascorbic acid content (14.31 mg/100 g), lycopene content (3.54 mg/100 g), reducing sugars (3.11%), non-reducing sugars (1.02%), total sugar (4.13%), and shelf life (15.76 days) of tomato were higher with 100% of the recommended NPK from organic NPK granules than from synthetic granules. This treatment also enhanced the available nutrients and microbial population in the soil. Notably, the same trend was observed for tomatoes fertilized with 75 % of the recommended NPK. The lowest values were obtained with the absolute control. Based on the results of this experiment, the application of 100% of the recommended NPK using organic NPK granules is the best approach to improve the quality of tomato fruits and to enhance the soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin (Mel) is a multifunctional signaling molecule, quantified in a wide range of higher plants. It acts as a pleiotropic molecule and is involved in numerous signaling and physiological processes, particularly under harsh environmental conditions in plants. In the present study, the defensive role of Mel was explored in salt (NaCl)-stressed tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants. Mel (50 or 100 µM) was supplied to the foliage of tomato plants at 30 days after transplantation (DAT), grown without stress, and in the presence of NaCl (100 or 150 mM) stress. Salt stress negatively affected photosynthetic efficiency, cell viability, plant growth, fruit quality, and impaired root morphology, and stomatal physiology, but induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species ((H2O2 and O2·−), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and electrolyte leakage. Interestingly, foliar supplementation of Mel to stressed and non-stressed plants lowered MDA levels, reduced oxidative stress and promoted photosynthesis, improved cell viability, stomatal behavior, and plant growth, and boosted the activity of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and elevated proline content which bestowed endurance and reduced the salt-induced oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change exacerbates abiotic stresses like salinization, negatively impacting crop yield, so development of strategies, like using salt‐tolerant rootstocks, is crucial. The CALCINEURIN B‐LIKE 10 (SlCBL10) gene has been previously identified as a positive regulator of salt tolerance in the tomato shoot. Here, we report a different function of SlCBL10 in tomato shoot and root, as disruption of SlCBL10 only induced salt sensitivity when it was used in the scion but not in the rootstock. The use of SlCBL10 silencing rootstocks (Slcbl10 mutant and RNAi line) improved salt tolerance on the basis of fruit yield. These changes were associated with improved Na+ and K+ homoeostasis, as SlCBL10 silencing reduced the Na+ content and increased the K+ content under salinity, not only in the rootstock but also in the shoot. Improvement of Na+ homoeostasis in Slcbl10 rootstock seems to be mainly due to induction of SlSOS1 expression, while the higher K+ accumulation in roots seems to be mainly determined by expression of LKT1 transporter and SlSKOR channel. These findings demonstrate that SlCBL10 is a negative regulator of salt tolerance in the root, so the use of downregulated SlCBL10 rootstocks may provide a suitable strategy to increase tomato fruit production under salinity. Summary statement: A novel function of SlCBL10 in tomato root is reported, as the gene silencing rootstock improve salt tolerance of the shoot genotype throughout growth cycle resulting in higher fruit yield. The salt tolerance is related to improved Na+/K+ homoeostasis via upregulated expression of SlSOS1 for Na+ and LKT1 and SlSKOR for K+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato is valued for its nutritional importance and contribution to countries' GDP. Despite the importance of tomatoes, tomato cultivation remains a challenge in some cities, particularly Kumba, Cameroon. This results from a vast knowledge gap for a suitable variety and agronomic management practices. Thus this work was set out to investigate the response of three tomato varieties under organic, foliar, and granular inorganic fertilization at the Kumba I subdivision. This work comprised two factors; variety having three levels (Cobra F1, Rio Grande, and Kiara tomato varieties) and fertilization having four levels (control, NPK 20:10:10 granular fertilizer, Foliar NPK 20:10:10 inorganic fertilizer, and Poultry manure) given twelve treatment combinations replicated three times randomly in a factorial design. Data was collected on soil physicochemical properties, plant growth parameters and fruit yield. The results showed that the variety did not significantly affect soil physicochemical properties, but soil physicochemical properties were significantly affected by fertilization. Poultry manure had the best OC (5.22 %), Ntot (1.73 g/kg), and Pavail (14.63 mg/kg), while K was highest (2.93 meq/100g) in NPK 20:10:10 granular fertilization. Rio grande, in combination with poultry manure, had the best plant growth; plant height (77.3 cm), number of branches (17), number of leaves (197), and leaf area (47.1 cm2). Cobra F1, in combination with foliar NPK 20:10:10 granular and poultry manure, had the best fruit yield; 13.42 tha-1 and 13.56 tha-1, respectively while Kiara variety at the control treatment had the lowest yield (8.36 tha-1). Thus Cobra F1 variety in combination with poultry manure yielded the best result from this study and offers the best option for tomato cultivation in the sandy clay soils of Kumba, Cameroon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

spraying 100 µM melatonin on the plants challenged with individual or combined drought and HT stress showed a significant increase in total chlorophyll content [drought: 16%, HT: 14%, and drought+HT: 11%], Fv/Fm [drought: 16%, HT: 15%, and drought+HT: 13%], relative water content [drought: 10%, HT: 2%, and drought +HT: 8%], and proline [drought: 26%, HT: 17%, and drought+HT: 14%] compared with their respective stress control. Additionally, melatonin positively influenced the stomatal and trichome characteristics compared with stress control plants. Also, the osmotic adjustment was found to be significantly increased in the melatonin-sprayed plants, which, in turn, resulted in an increased number of fruits, fruit set percentage, and fruit yield. Moreover, melatonin spray also enhanced the quality of fruits through increased lycopene content, carotenoid content, titratable acidity, and ascorbic acid content, compared with the stress control. Overall, this study highlights the usefulness of melatonin in effectively mitigating the negative effects of drought, HT, and drought+HT stress, thus leading to an increased drought and HT stress tolerance in tomato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity has necessitated the adoption of water-saving techniques in both protected and non-protected farming. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a water-saving soilless cultivation technique and compare it to conventional soil-based cultivation in protected farming. The soilless technique utilized local gravel and a mixture of peat moss, humin-substrate, and perlite in a 4:3:1.5 ratio. During the tomato growth cycle, three irrigation regimes were imposed using drip irrigation: 8 Lh−1 design discharge (D1) emitters, 6 Lh−1 design discharge (D0.75) emitters, and 4 Lh−1 design discharge (D0.5) emitters for both cultivation methods. Vegetative growth, fruit yield, and water consumption were measured and water productivity was determined. Additionally, an economic assessment was conducted by estimating and comparing economic coefficients for both cultivation methods. Estimated coefficients included revenues, net profit, benefit–cost ratio, breakeven levels of production and prices, revenues over variable cost, and revenues on investment. The tomato fruit yield under soil-based cultivation surpassed the yield under soilless cultivation. Water productivity under soilless cultivation was nearly double (24.3 kg m−3) that of soil-based cultivation (15.5 kg m−3). Soilless cultivation saved 50% of the irrigation water applied by the conventional soil-based method, conserving energy and protecting the soil from deterioration. Revenues and net profits, driven by higher yield and lower variable costs, favored soil-based cultivation. The economic assessment demonstrated that both cultivation methods were economically viable. However, the soil-based cultivation method was more profitable due to its higher fruit yield. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the soilless cultivation technique is a feasible option for water-saving cultivation. However, the soil-based cultivation method remains more profitable due to its superior fruit yield. The soilless cultivation technique offers significant water savings but needs further improvements to achieve comparable economic returns to traditional farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global plant production is challenged by unpredictable (a)biotic stresses that occur individually, simultaneously or staggered. Due to an increasing demand for environmentally friendly plant production, new sustainable, universal, and preventive measures in crop protection are needed. We postulate thermopriming as a suitable procedure that fulfills these requirements. Therefore, we performed thermopriming as a pre-conditioning on tomato transplants in combination with two subsequent salt stress treatments to evaluate their single and combined physiological effects on leaves and fruits with regard to plant performance, fruit yield and quality. We identified a cross-tolerance to salinity that was triggered by the preceding thermopriming treatment and resulted in an accumulation of phenols and flavonols in the leaves. Plant growth and fruit yield were initially delayed after the stress treatments but recovered later. In regard to fruit quality, we found an increase in carotenoid and starch contents in fruits due to thermopriming, while sugars and titratable acidity were not affected. Our results indicate that thermopriming can mitigate the impact of subsequent and recurrent stress events on plant performance and yield under production-like conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tomato is a major crop worldwide and is one of the five most consumed vegetables in Germany. Stemphylium species including S. eturmiunum, S. gracilariae, S. lycii, S. lycopersici, S. rombundicum, S. simmonsii, S. solani, and S. vesicarium have been identified as tomato pathogens in various countries. In Germany, multiple instances of S. lycopersici and S. solani affecting tomato plants have been documented; however, only one incident of S. vesicarium has been reported in 1972. S. vesicarium is known to cause yellowish-brown spots on tomato leaves, which can ultimately lead to defoliation and reduced fruit yield. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the S. vesicarium that cause this disease accurately. In this study, S. vesicarium was isolated from necrotic tomato plants in organic farms located in northern and southern regions of Germany. Single spore isolates were generated and identified as S. vesicarium based on morphological characteristic and molecular analyses using nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Koch´s postulates were fulfilled and revealed that S. vesicarium is the causal agent of brown spot on the samples adding a new account of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Biochar soil amendment can improve growing medium water and nutrient status and crop productivity. A pot experiment was conducted using Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme plants to investigate the effects of biochar amendment (20% application rate) on a soilless substrate, as well as on plant growth, fruit yield, and quality. During the experiment, substrate characteristics, plant morphological traits, and root and leaf C/N content were analyzed at three sampling points defined as early stage (36 days after germination), vegetative stage (84 days a. g.), and fruit stage (140 days a. g.). Fruit morphological traits, titratable acidity, lycopene, and solid soluble content were measured at the end of the experiment. Biochar ameliorated substrate characteristics (Nav increase of 17% and Ctot increase of 13% at the beginning of the study), resulting in a promotion effect on plant root, shoot, and leaf morphology mainly at the vegetative and fruit stages. Indeed, at these two sampling points, the biochar-treated plants had a greater number of leaves (38 and 68 at the vegetative and fruit stages, respectively) than the untreated plants (32 and 49, respectively). The biochar also increased leaf area with a rise of 26% and 36% compared with the values measured in the untreated plants. Moreover, the amendment increased twofold root length, root surface area, and root, stem, and leaf biomasses in comparison with untreated plants. Regarding plant productivity, although fruit morphology remained unchanged, biochar increased flower and fruit numbers (six times and two times, respectively), acidity (75%), lycopene (28%), and solid soluble content (16%). By unveiling promoting changes in morphological traits, fruit number, and antioxidant content occurring in cherry tomato plants growing in a biochar-treated soilless substrate, it could be possible to highlight the importance of biochar for future applications in the field for enhancing plant production and fruit quality in a sustainable agriculture framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental artificial light in greenhouses is fundamental to achieving sustainable crop production with high yield and quality. This study's purpose was to investigate the efficacy of supplemental light (SL) sources on the vegetative and reproductive growth of cherry tomatoes. Four types of light sources were applied, including high-pressure sodium lamps (HPS), a narrow-spectrum LED light (NSL), and two specific full-spectrum LED lights (SFL1 and SFL2) with a shorter blue peak wavelength (436 nm) and/or green peak wavelength (526 nm). The control was the natural light condition. Shoot fresh and dry weight and leaf area in the SFL1 and SFL2 treatments were greater than those in the control. The HPS and NSL treatments also enhanced tomato growth, but they were less efficient compared to the SFL treatments. The SFL1 and SFL2 treatments showed higher fruit yields by 73.1% and 70.7%, respectively, than the control. The SL sources did not affect the effective photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (Y (II)). However, they did trigger the increased electron transport rate (ETR) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). The SFL treatments enhanced tomato growth, fruit yield, and efficient use of light and energy, suggesting that the specific full spectrum based on the short-wavelength blue and/or green peak can be successfully applied for the cultivation of cherry tomato and other crops in greenhouses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Crop quality, yield and farmer income are reduced by soil‐borne diseases, nematodes and weeds, although these can be controlled by allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), a plant‐derived soil fumigant. However, its efficacy against soil‐borne pathogens varies, mainly because of its chemical instability and uneven distribution in the soil. Formulation modification is an effective way to optimize pesticide application. We encapsulated AITC in modified diatomite granules (GR) and measured the formulation's loading content and stability, environmental fate and efficacy against soil‐borne pathogens, and its impact on the growth and yield of tomatoes. RESULTS: We observed that an AITC loading content in the granules of 27.6% resulted in a degradation half‐life of GR that was 1.94 times longer than 20% AITC emulsifiable concentrate in water (EW) and shorter than AITC technical (TC) grade. The stable and more even distribution of GR in soil resulted in relatively consistent and acceptable control of soil‐borne pathogens. Soil containing AITC residues that remained 10–24 days after GR fumigation were not phytotoxic to cucumber seeds. GR significantly reduced soil‐borne pest populations, and tomato growth and yield increased as AITC dosage increased. GR containing an AITC dose of 20 g m−2 effectively controlled pathogens in soil for about 7 months and improved tomato yield by 108%. CONCLUSION: Our research demonstrates the benefits of soil fumigation with loaded AITC over other formulations for effective pest control, and improved tomato plant growth and fruit yield. Fumigant encapsulation appears to be a useful method to improve pest and disease control, environmental performance and fumigant commercial sustainability. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is the second most important vegetable crop after potatoes, and global demands have been steadily increasing in recent years. Conventional and modern breeding techniques have been applied to breed and domesticate tomato varieties to meet the need for higher yield or superior agronomical traits that allow them to sustain under different climatic conditions. In the current study, we applied bulk population breeding by crossing eight tomato accessions procured from the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center with three heat-resistant tomato inbred lines from Vietnam and generated ten elite tomato (ET) lines in the F8 generation. The individual F8 lines exhibited robust vigor and adaptability to climatic conditions of North Vietnam. Among the ten lines, ET1 and ET3 displayed indeterminate growth. ET2 showed semi-determinate, while all the other lines had determinate growth. The different ET lines showed distinctive superior agronomical traits, including early maturing (ET4, ET7, and ET10), highly efficient fruit set (ET1), higher yield (ET1, ET8, ET10), jointless pedicels (ET2), and partial parthenocarpy (ET9). Molecular analysis revealed that the ET3 line consisted of Ty-1 and Ty-3 loci that positively contribute to Tomato yellow leaf curl virus resistance in tomato plants. The elite tomato lines developed in this study would contribute significantly to the Vietnamese and Asian gene pool for improved tomato production and would be a valuable resource for various breeding goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absence of an externally-imposed 24 h light/dark cycle in closed plant production systems allows setting the light environmental parameters in unconventional ways. Innovative lighting modes for energy-saving, high-quality, and yield production are widely discussed. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the light/dark cycles of 16/8 h (control) and 24/12 h, 48/24 h, 96/48 h, 120/60 h (unconventional cycles) based on the same total light amount, and continuous lighting (360/0 h) on plant performance of some Solanaceae species. Responses of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants to extended light/dark cycles and continuous lighting were studied under controlled climate conditions. Plants with two true leaves were exposed to different light/dark cycles for 15 days. Light intensity was 250 µmol m−2 s−1 PPFD, provided by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). After the experiment, tomato, sweet pepper, and eggplant transplants were planted in a greenhouse and grown under identical conditions of natural photoperiod for the estimation of the after-effect of light treatments on fruit yield. Extended light/dark cycles of 24/12 h, 48/24 h, 96/48 h, 120/60 h, and 360/0 h affected growth, development, photosynthetic pigment content, anthocyanin and flavonoid content, and redox state of plants. Effects varied with plant species and length of light/dark cycles. In some cases, measured parameters improved with increasing light/dark periods despite the same total sum of illumination received by plants. Treatments of tomato and pepper transplants with 48/24 h, 96/48 h, and 120/60 h resulted in higher fruit yield compared to conventional 16/8 h photoperiod. The conclusion was made that extended light/dark cycles can result in increased light use efficiency compared to conventional photoperiod and, therefore, reduced product cost, but for practical application, the effects need to be further explored for individual plant species or even cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the yield and some quality characteristics of 20 beef tomato lines at the F6 stage. As a result, the total yield, average fruit weight, fruit length, and fruit width of the lines varied between 6.60-14.93 t/da, 200.80-384.00 g, 53.68-75.05 mm, and 71.95-98.29 mm respectively. Furthermore, it was found that the fruit flesh firmness values of the tomato lines used in the study varied between 0.41-1.32 kg/cm²; brix values between 6.10-9.60%; vitamin C values between 20.03-25.57 mg/100 g; total phenolic contents between 13.28-30.72 mg/100 g; lycopene contents between 4.69-9.68 mg/100 g and beta-carotene contents between 0.83-2.17 mg/100 g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron (B) is an essential nutrient for the plant, and its stress (both deficiency and toxicity) are major problems that affect crop production. Ethylene metabolism (both signaling and production) is important to plants' differently responding to nutrient availability. To better understand the connections between B and ethylene, here we investigate the function of ethylene in the responses of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants to B stress (deficiency, 0 μM and toxicity, 640 μM), using ethylene related mutants, namely nonripening (nor), ripening-inhibitor (rin), never ripe (Nr), and epinastic (Epi). Our results show that B stress does not necessarily inhibit plant growth, but both B stress and ethylene signaling severely affected physiological parameters, such as photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll a fluorescence. Under B toxicity, visible symptoms of toxicity appeared in the roots and margins of the older leaves through necrosis, caused by the accumulation of B which stimulated ethylene biosynthesis in the shoots. Both nor and rin (ethylene signaling) mutants presented similar responses, being these genotypes more sensitive and displaying several morphophysiological alterations, including fruit productivity reductions, in response to the B toxicity conditions. Therefore, our results suggest that physiological and metabolic changes in response to B fluctuations are likely mediated by ethylene signaling. • Vegetative growth is differentially affected by Boron levels in ethylene mutants. • Ethylene mutants adjust root morphology in response to distinct Boron levels. • Boron influences ethylene-mediated N accumulation and metabolism. • Boron affects ethylene production and perception in WT and ethylene mutants. • Ethylene overproduction and B toxicity induce loss in post-harvest quality in tomato fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]