Evaluation of fresh market tomatoes of the determinate type irrigated by trickle and grown on raised beds covered with polyethylene mulch

Abstract

Experiments were conducted in November and December, 1981, at three commercial growing sites in New South Wales (Duranbah, Medowie and Richmond) to evaluate the yield and quality of eight determinate cultivars of fresh market tomatoes. Flora-Dade, which is the most widely grown commercial cultivar in Australia, was included as a control. Over all sites, Sunny, Duke and Royal Flush were the highest yielding cultivars, with increases of 25, 22 and 20% respectively, over Flora-Dade. Sunny was the highest yielding cultivar at Medowie and Richmond. Fruit for quality assessment was harvested at an early colour stage and ripened at 20°C. Fruit of Flora-Dade was firmer than all other cultivars. Sunny and GS393 had similar shelf life to Flora- Dade. Chemical composition and sensory tests showed little differences between cultivars.