Summary:
Four early- and 11 mid-maturity variety tests were conducted throughout
major processing tomato production regions of California during
the 2001 season. An additional mid-maturity test (Merced County)
was lost due to sustained adverse environmental conditions. All
of the major production areas, from Kern to Sutter/Colusa Counties,
had one or more field tests to identify tomato cultivars appropriate
for that specific region.
Increasing industry interest in the use of transplants has led
us to incorporate this production technique into our variety evaluation
program, where appropriate. Three of the mid-season test sites (Colusa,
San Joaquin and Yolo Counties) utilized transplants. Two of the
locations conducted both direct-seeded and transplant mid-season
tests.
The highest yielding early- maturing replicated varieties were
CXD 216, PS 816, UG 606, H 1100 and 'APT 410', across all locations.
The overall highest yielding mid-maturing replicated varieties were
H9665, H9492, H9775, and H8892.
Objectives:
The objectives have remained the same since this program was initiated
over 25 years ago: to conduct well-designed, replicated varietal
performance field tests throughout major California processing tomato
production regions. The primary way of accomplishing that is the
evaluation of recently-developed and industry standard cultivars.
Parameters of particular interest include fruit quality (soluble
solids, pH and color), fruit yields, disease resistence/tolerance
and plant architecture. These tests are designed and conducted with
input or collaboration from seed companies, processors, producers
and other industry partners, and are intended to generate information
useful for making intelligent variety selection management decisions.
Procedures:
Tests were established in commercial production fields with grower
cooperators. A uniform set of varieties was used at all locations,
and individual Farm Advisors had the latitude to add to this core-group,
to meet specific local needs. The tests included 9 observational
& 12 replicated early-maturity entries and 19 observational
& 19 replicated entries in the mid-maturity tests (Tables1A
and 1B).
Early-maturing tests were planted from January to the end of March
and mid-maturity tests were planted from April to early June. New
varieties usually were screened one or more years in non-replicated,
observational tests before being selected for testing in replicated
trials. Tests are established in commercial production fields with
grower cooperators. A common set of varieties are utilized in all
of the tests, and individual Farm Advisors have the latitude to
add to this core-group, to meet specific local unique needs.
Each variety is planted in a one-bed wide by 100 foot long plot.
The replicated varieties are planted in four randomly selected plots
and the observational varieties in one non-replicated plot. The
plots are seeded/transplanted by the researcher, separately from
the remainder of the field outside of the test area. All cultural
operations, with the exception of planting and harvesting, are done
by the grower/cooperator and are consistent with what is done to
the remainder of the field outside of the test area.
All variety trials were furrow irrigated with the exception of
the 3rd Fresno County mid-season maturing trial, which was subsurface
drip irrigated, and the Sutter and Colusa County, mid-season maturing
trials, which were sprinkler irrigated. Colusa, San Joaquin, and
Stanislaus County mid-season maturing trials received an application
of Ethrel to hasten ripening.
A field day, or arrangements for interested persons to visit the
plots, occurred at all of the tests. Shortly before or during harvest,
fruit samples were collected from all plots and submitted to PTAB
for soluble solids, color and pH determinations.
The plots were harvested with commercial harvesters (except the
San Joaquin trial and the early trial at the Westside Field Station
in Fresno), using GT wagons, equipped with weigh cells, to obtain
plot weights.
The data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance
procedures and reports of results were disseminated to the California
processing tomato industry through individual newsletters, regional
production meetings, CTRI Director meetings, media and other methods.
Results
Results are presented in the following tables for the combination
of all locations and for individual trials:
Table 2: A, B, C, D Early-Maturity Observational-Yield, Soluble
solids, PTAB Color, pH
Table 3: A, B, C, D Early-Maturity Replicated- Yield, Soluble solids,
PTAB Color, pH
Table 4: A, B, C, D Mid-Maturity Observational-Yield, Soluble solids,
PTAB Color, pH
Table 5: A, B, C, D Mid-Maturity Replicated-Yield, Soluble solids,
PTAB Color, pH
Early-Maturing Observational Varieties
The average fruit yield of all observational varieties across the
4 trial locations was 36.9 tons/acre. Yields were not significantly
different among varieties (Table 2A), although there was an 11 ton/acre
difference between the highest and lowest yields.
The average soluble solids level across all locations and varieties
was 4.9%. The varieties with the highest brix levels were 'NDM970',
'CTRI1090' and 'HyPeel 45' (Table 2B).
Varieties with the lowest PTAB color were 'H1800', and 'H9997'
(Table 2C). The average PTAB color across locations/varieties was
24.7.
Fruit pH levels were not significantly different between observational
varieties (Table 2D). The average fruit pH for all locations and
varieties was 4.36.
Early-Maturing Replicated Varieties
The average fruit yield for all replicated varieties across the
4 trial locations was 37.9 tons/acre. Highest yielding varieties
included 'CXD 216', 'PS816', 'UG606', 'H1100' and 'APT 410' (Table
3A). Note that there was a significant interaction among varieties
and locations, meaning that the relative ranking of varieties differed
significantly among locations.
The average soluble solids level across locations and varieties
was 5.0%. The varieties with the highest brix levels were 'H9888',
'CTRI1056' and 'HyPeel 45'(Table 3B). Brix levels were consistent
between locations.
Varieties with the lowest PTAB color were 'APT410', 'H9280', 'H9888',
'CTRI1056' and 'Hypack 280' (Table 3C). Fruit color averaged 25.1
across all varieties and locations.
Varieties with the lowest fruit pH were 'H9881' and 'CTRI1056'(Table
3D). The average fruit pH for all locations and varieties was 4.37.
pH was not measured at the Fresno location.
Mid-Maturing Observational Varieties
Yield data from observational varieties were analyzed for 10 locations.
Kern County yields were not included in the analysis due to high
variability. In addition PTAB data was unavailable for Kern County.
The average fruit yield for all observational varieties across the
10 trial locations was 41.9 tons/acre. The highest yielding varieties
were 'Sun 6340' and 'AP863'(Table 4A).
The average brix level across all locations and varieties was 5.2%.
The varieties with the highest brix levels were 'CTRI1056', 'PS173',
'Sun 6324', 'SUN 6333', 'CXD211', 'CDX224' and 'H9995' (Table 4B).
Twelve of the 19 varieties were in the lowest PTAB color group(Table
4C). The average across locations and varieties was 23.9.
Varieties with the lowest pH were 'PX849', 'CTRI1056', 'H9995',
'Sun 6340', and 'Sun 6333' (Table 4D). The average fruit pH for
all locations and varieties was 4.34.
Mid-Maturing Replicated Varieties
The average fruit yield for all replicated varieties across the
11 trial locations was 38.2 tons/acre. The highest yielding varieties
were 'H9665', 'H9492', 'H9775', and 'H8892' (Table 5A). There was
a significant variety by location interaction, meaning that the
relative ranking of varieties differed among locations.
The average soluble solids level across all locations and varieties
was 5.2%. The variety with the highest brix level was 'CXD 221'
(Table 5B). A significant variety times location interaction was
found for fruit brix.
The variety with the lowest PTAB color was 'CXD 207' (Table 5C).
The average PTAB color across locations and varieties was 23.8.
Varieties with the lowest fruit pH were 'H9665', 'Halley 3155',
'H9775' and 'HyPeel 347' (Table 5D). The average fruit pH for all
locations and varieties was 4.33.
Highest yielding varieties of all locations were H9665, H9492,
H9775, and H8892 (Table 5A). There was a significant variety-by-location
interaction, meaning that the relative ranking of varieties differed
among locations. The average brix level across all locations and
varieties was 5.2%. PTAB fruit quality data was unavailable for
Kern Co. The varieties with the highest brix levels were CXD 221,
CXD 208, Halley 3155, CXD 207 and HM 0830 (Table 5B). Like the yield
analysis, a significant variety-by-location interaction was found
for fruit brix. Varieties with the best color were CXD 207, H 9998,
CTRI 5158, and Sun 6332 (Table 5C). Varieties with the lowest fruit
pH were H9665, Halley 3155, H 9775 and HyPeel 347 (Table 5D). The
average fruit pH for all locations and varieties was 4.33.
Acknowledgements
We thank the CTRI and participating seed companies for continued
support. We appreciate PTAB's cooperation and evaluation of our
fruit samples. We could not conduct these tests without the ongoing
support of the processors. We rely heavily on the statistical expertise
of Gail Nishimoto. We thank the many grower cooperators who were
involved with these trials: Button and Turkovich Ranches, Crettol
Farms, Emerald Farms, Live Oak Farms, Marca Bella Farms, J.H. Meek
and Sons, Michelena Farms, Joe Muller and Sons, Poundstone Brothers,
Roma Farms, and Simoni and Massoni Farms.
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Table 1A. Early-maturing test varieties
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Table 1B. Mid- maturing test varieties
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Table 2A. FRUIT YIELDS FOR EARLY-MATURING OBSERVATIONAL
VARIETIES
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Table 2B. FRUIT SOLUBLE SOLIDS FOR EARLY-MATURING
OBSERVATIONAL VARIETIES
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Table 2C. FRUIT COLOR FOR EARLY-MATURING OBSERVATIONAL
VARIETIES
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Table 2D. FRUIT pH FOR EARLY-MATURING OBSERVATION
VARIETIES
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Table 3A. FRUIT YIELDS FOR EARLY-MATURING REPLICATED
VARIETIES
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Table 3B. FRUIT BRIX FOR EARLY-MATURING REPLICATED
VARIETIES
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Table 3C. FRUIT COLOR FOR EARLY-MATURING REPLICATED
VARIETIES
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Table 3D. FRUIT pH FOR EARLY-MATURING REPLICATED
VARIETIES
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