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A Vegetable Crops Extension Publication |
University of Florida |
Vegetarian Newsletter| (Note:
Anyone is free to use the information in this newsletter. Whenever possible, please give
credit to the authors. The purpose of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing information and does not necessarily constitute a recommendation of the product.) |
EVENTS
CALENDER
COMMERCIAL
VEGETABLES
Snack
Food Association Potato Variety Trial, 2001
Copper Toxicity of Vegetable Crops
Spring 2001 GCREC
Cantaloupe Variety Evaluation
Spring 2001 GCREC Tomato
Variety Evaluation
Sensory Evaluation of Cantaloupe Varieties in North Florida
VEGETABLE GARDENING
No article this month
List of Extension Vegetable Crops Specialists
| 2002 Postharvest Horticulture Industry Tour - March 4-7, 2002. Visit postharvest operations from harvest through shipping in central and southwest Florida. Special rates are available for county and statewide faculty. Contact Steve Sargent (sasa@mail.ifas.ufl.edu, 352-392-1928, ext. 215) or Mark Ritenour (mrit@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu, 561-467-3877). |
| Cucurbitaceae 2002 - December 8-12, 2002 - Naples Beach and Golf Club, Naples, FL. Contact Donald N. Maynard at (941)751-7636 x239 or dnma@mail.ifas.ufl.edu. |
Snack Food Association Potato Variety Trial, 2001 |
Chad
Hutchinson,
Hastings REC, University of Florida/IFAS, P.O. Box 728, Hastings, FL. Telephone: 904-692-1792, Email: cmhutch@ufl.edu.
Marion
White,
Mid-Florida REC, University of Florida/IFAS, 2725 Binion Road, Apopka, FL. Telephone: 407-884-2034.
Pete
Weingartner,
Hastings REC, University of Florida/IFAS, P.O. Box 728, Hastings, FL. Telephone: 904-692-1792.
Chip
potato production is valued at over $100 M annually in Florida. Chip potatoes are grown in many areas of the state
although the greatest concentration of chip potato acreage (20 k + acres) is in Hastings. The goal of the Snack Food Association Potato
Variety Trial is to find a chip potato with better quality and production characteristics
than Atlantic, the standard Florida chip variety. Varieties
and clones are submitted for evaluation in the program by unviersity, USDA, and private
breeding programs. Clones are evaluated under
Florida’s short day growing conditions for higher gravity, better production,
improved chip color, and improved disease resistance compared to Atlantic. (
Planting
Date/Harvest Date: February
16, 2001; June 4, 2001
Season
Length: 108
days
Fertilizer: preplant,
168-24-144 lb/A; sidedress, 98-14-84 lb/A
Pest
Control: Telone II, 6 gpa December 20,
2001
Temik
15G, 20 lb/A, February 16, 2001
Sencor
DF, 16 oz/A, at hilling
Fungicides,
IPM program
Early
Plant Size (Early Vigor): Rated 39 days after planting
Highest
Total Yield: Atlantic
(410 cwt/acre)
Highest
Marketable Yield: W1431
(374 cwt/acre)
Best
Overall Tuber Appearance: NY120
(5.7), AF1424-7 (5.7)
Table 1. Snack Food Association Trial. Total yield, marketable yield, percentage of yield by grade, size distribution, percent culls, and specific gravity of chipping potato clones grown in Hastings, FL – 2001. |
||||||||||||
Clone |
Total Yield (cwt/A) |
Marketable Yield1 |
Size |
Size |
Specific Gravity |
|||||||
(cwt/A) |
percent of standard |
Distribution by Class (%)2 |
Distribution (%) |
|||||||||
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
2 to 4 |
3 to 4 |
culls |
|||||
Season–108 days |
||||||||||||
Atlantic |
410 |
335 |
100 |
2 |
29 |
39 |
30 |
0 |
98 |
69 |
16 |
1.078 |
LaChipper |
266 |
244 |
73 |
4 |
44 |
42 |
10 |
0 |
96 |
52 |
5 |
1.070 |
Snowden |
315 |
286 |
85 |
3 |
39 |
41 |
15 |
2 |
95 |
56 |
4 |
1.079 |
AF1424-7 |
204 |
177 |
53 |
9 |
54 |
33 |
4 |
0 |
91 |
37 |
5 |
1.077 |
AF1775-2 |
373 |
353 |
105 |
1 |
23 |
37 |
39 |
0 |
99 |
75 |
4 |
1.075 |
B0766-3 |
336 |
293 |
87 |
4 |
30 |
34 |
32 |
1 |
95 |
66 |
8 |
1.070 |
NDTX4930-5W |
333 |
276 |
82 |
5 |
56 |
37 |
2 |
0 |
95 |
39 |
13 |
1.068 |
NY120 |
297 |
273 |
81 |
4 |
49 |
41 |
6 |
0 |
96 |
47 |
5 |
1.077 |
MSA091-1 |
301 |
263 |
79 |
4 |
52 |
43 |
1 |
0 |
96 |
44 |
9 |
1.076 |
MSG227-2 |
295 |
257 |
77 |
9 |
74 |
17 |
0 |
0 |
91 |
17 |
4 |
1.071 |
W1355-1 |
170 |
152 |
45 |
6 |
62 |
31 |
0 |
0 |
94 |
31 |
4 |
1.079 |
W1431 |
374 |
356 |
106 |
3 |
44 |
45 |
8 |
0 |
97 |
53 |
2 |
1.074 |
Average |
306 |
272 |
1.074 |
|||||||||
Planted on
February 16, 2001, fertilizer rate was 168-24-144/A plus 98-14-84/A side dressed,
harvested on June 4, 2001. 2 - Size classes: 1 = <1 7/8", 2 = 1 7/8 to 2.5", 3 = 2.5 to 3.25", 4 = 3.25 to 4", 5 = >4"; Size Distribution by Class was calculated with the following formula: Class (wt)/Total Yield (wt) – culls (wt) |
||||||||||||
Table 2. Snack Food Association Trial. Yield, vine maturity, tuber characteristics, and internal defects of chipping potato clones grown in Hastings, FL - 2001. |
|||||||||||||
Clone |
Total Yield (cwt/A) |
Marketable Yield (cwt/A) |
Vine Maturity1 |
Tuber Characteristics1 |
Internal Defects2 |
||||||||
IFC |
SC |
ST |
TS |
ED |
APP |
HH |
BR |
CRS |
INT |
||||
Season–108 days |
|||||||||||||
Atlantic |
410 |
335 |
2.0 |
1.3 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
3.3 |
6.3 |
5.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
LaChipper |
266 |
244 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
6.7 |
7.0 |
3.7 |
4.7 |
5.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Snowden |
315 |
286 |
3.5 |
1.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
3.3 |
5.0 |
5.3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
AF1424-7 |
204 |
177 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
7.3 |
6.7 |
3.0 |
6.3 |
5.7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
AF1775-2 |
373 |
353 |
3.0 |
1.0 |
6.7 |
7.0 |
3.3 |
6.0 |
5.3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
B0766-3 |
336 |
293 |
1.5 |
1.0 |
7.0 |
6.0 |
3.0 |
6.3 |
5.3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
NDTX4930-5W |
333 |
276 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
6.7 |
7.0 |
3.3 |
6.3 |
5.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
NY120 |
297 |
273 |
1.5 |
1.0 |
5.3 |
5.7 |
2.7 |
6.3 |
5.7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
MSA091-1 |
301 |
263 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
7.0 |
7.0 |
2.7 |
6.0 |
5.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
MSG227-2 |
295 |
257 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
5.0 |
5.7 |
4.0 |
6.3 |
5.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
W1355-1 |
170 |
152 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
6.3 |
6.0 |
3.0 |
6.0 |
5.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
W1431 |
374 |
356 |
1.5 |
1.0 |
7.0 |
6.7 |
4.0 |
5.7 |
4.7 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1 See rating system outlined in Florida Rating Code
Table (Table 4). 2 Percent of tubers with defects. HH = hollow heart, BR = brown rot, CRS = corky ring spot, INT = internal browning. |
|||||||||||||
Table 3. Snack Food Association Trial. Chip quality data for chipping potato clones grown in Hastings, FL – 2001. |
|||||||
Clone |
Total |
Marketable |
Chip Data1 |
||||
Wise Defect Score |
Wise |
SG |
Comments |
||||
External |
Internal |
||||||
Season–108 days |
|||||||
Atlantic |
410 |
335 |
4 |
0 |
55 |
1.078 |
fairly bright |
LaChipper |
266 |
244 |
1 |
0 |
54 |
1.070 |
dark golden |
Snowden |
315 |
286 |
3 |
0 |
57 |
1.079 |
|
AF1424-7 |
204 |
177 |
7 |
0 |
62 |
1.077 |
nice |
AF1775-2 |
373 |
353 |
2 |
0 |
58 |
1.075 |
|
B0766-3 |
336 |
293 |
0 |
0 |
58 |
1.070 |
|
NDTX4930-5W |
333 |
276 |
1 |
0 |
54 |
1.068 |
good appearance |
NY120 |
297 |
273 |
0 |
1 |
48 |
1.077 |
dark golden |
MSA091-1 |
301 |
263 |
0 |
13 |
53 |
1.076 |
|
MSG227-2 |
295 |
257 |
3 |
3 |
57 |
1.071 |
oblong appearance |
W1355-1 |
170 |
152 |
0 |
1 |
51 |
1.079 |
|
W1431 |
374 |
356 |
2 |
0 |
52 |
1.074 |
dark golden |
Average |
306 |
272 |
55 |
1.074 |
|||
| 1Color: 58 minimum acceptable; defects: 15 maximum combined internal and external allowed. Defects are defined as any imperfection equal to or greater than 3/16 inch in diameter. | |||||||
Table 4. Florida Rating Codes for Potato Plant and Potato Tuber Characteristics1 |
||||||
Plant Characteristics |
||||||
Rating Code |
Early Vigor |
Plant Size |
Vine Maturity |
Plant Type |
Vine Maturity at Harvest/Vinekill |
|
0 |
No Emergence |
|||||
1 |
Plants Just Emerged |
Very Small |
Very Early |
Decumbent – Poor |
Dead |
|
2 |
Leaves in Rosette |
-- |
Early |
Decumbent – Fair |
-- |
|
3 |
Emerged Leaves Open |
Small |
+ |
Decumbent – Good |
Yellow and Dying |
|
4 |
Plants < 2" |
-- |
Medium Early |
Spreading – Poor |
-- |
|
5 |
Plants 2" to 4" |
Medium |
Medium |
Spreading – Fair |
Moderately Mature |
|
6 |
Plants 4" to 6" |
-- |
Medium Late |
Spreading – Good |
-- |
|
7 |
Plants 6" to 8" |
Large |
+ |
Upright – Poor |
Starting to Mature |
|
8 |
Plants 8" to 10" |
-- |
Late |
Upright – Fair |
-- |
|
9 |
Plants > 10" |
Very Large |
Very Late |
Upright - Good |
Green and Vigorous |
|
Tuber Characteristics |
||||||
Rating Code |
Internal Flesh Color |
Skin Color |
Skin Texture |
Tuber Shape |
Eye Depth |
Overall Appearance |
1 |
White |
Purple |
Part. Russet |
Round |
Very Deep |
Very Poor |
2 |
Cream |
Red |
Heavy Russet |
Mostly Round |
-- |
-- |
3 |
Light Yellow |
Pink |
Mod. Russet |
Round to Oblong |
Deep |
Poor |
4 |
Medium Yellow |
Dark Brown |
Light Russet |
Mostly Oblong |
-- |
-- |
5 |
Dark Yellow |
Brown |
Netted |
Oblong |
Intermediate |
Fair |
6 |
Pink |
Tan |
Slightly Netted |
Oblong to Long |
-- |
-- |
7 |
Red |
Buff |
Mod. Smooth |
Mostly Long |
Shallow |
Good |
8 |
Blue |
White |
Smooth |
Long |
-- |
-- |
9 |
Purple |
Cream |
Very Smooth |
Cylindrical |
Very Shallow |
Excellent |
1 Based on the standard NE 184 rating codes for plant and tuber characteristics. |
||||||
(Hutchinson - Vegetarian 01-12)
Copper Toxicity of Vegetable Crops |
Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth. It is an important component of proteins found in the enzymes that regulate biochemical reactions in plants. Copper-deficient plants are stunted and have short internodes and necrotic young leaves. Optimal Cu contents in leaves for most vegetable crops are 1-10 ppm. Copper deficiency often occurs in soils with high pH and in organic soils where Cu is complexed to organic substances. In early 50s, Cu fertilizer significantly increased crop production in Belle Glade area. Most mineral soils in Florida contain adequate amounts of Cu for optimum vegetable yields. Actually, high Cu concentrations in some soils cause toxicity to crops.
A recent study reported the background Cu concentrations for Florida surface soils are 0.2-22 ppm. However, some soils have as high as 1500 ppm for total Cu and 200 ppm for plant available Cu. Copper was accumulated in soils through application of fungicides, fertilizers, animal manures, and municipal solid wastes. Copper-formulated fungicides are probably a main source for most high Cu soils.
Copper toxicity to citrus was first reported in Florida as early as 1954. We did not find literatures on Cu toxicity to vegetable crops in Florida. However, for last several years I have seen Cu toxicity symptoms on various vegetable crops in south Florida. Recently, we evaluated effects of Cu on 6 vegetable crops (mustard, Chinese cabbage, tomato, pea, sweet corn, snap bean) in the Indian River Research and Education Center at Ft. Pierce. Growth of mustard, tomato and sweet corn were significantly reduced in the solution containing 10 ppm Cu. Chinese cabbage, pea and snap bean relatively resisted to Cu toxicity.
Copper toxicity symptoms include plant stunting, a bluish tint to leaf color, and leaf cupping followed by chlorosis or necrosis. Feeder roots may become darkened. Crops planted in high Cu soils often show iron deficiency symptoms. Some literature suggested that the Cu toxicity concentration in leaves is 150 ppm while other proposed toxicity levels as low as 20-30 ppm. There are large differences in Cu tolerance among crops. Bean is much more tolerant than sweet corn.
Copper is tightly adsorbed by most soils and will not easily leach. Therefore, once Cu accumulates in a soil and toxicity problem develops, it is very difficult to alleviate it. Several approaches may prevent or reduce Cu toxicity to vegetable crops: 1) testing soils before planting vegetables, especially for old citrus or avocado lands; 2) planting Cu-tolerant crops or varieties; 2) liming acid soil to pH 6.5; 3) using soil organic amendments; and 4) apply iron and other fertilizers to stimulate root growth.
(Yuncong Li and Zhenli He- Vegetarian 01-12)
| Spring 2001 GCREC Cantaloupe Variety Evaluation |
Cantaloupe is included in the melon group Cucumis melo cantalupensis in the Cucurbitaceae family. Cantaloupes are a relatively minor crop in Florida so there are no data available on commercial acreage, yield, production or value. However, there has been a great increase in production in west-central Florida and throughout the state in recent years indicating the potential for a strong commercial cantaloupe industry in Florida.
The ideal shipping variety for Florida should combine the following traits: (1) capacity to produce high yields; (2) fruit that is sutureless or nearly so, round to slightly oval, fully netted, a minimum 3 lb weight with a thick, deep salmon interior, a small, tight seed cavity, and high soluble solids; (3) a pleasant aroma and taste; and (4) resistance to fruit rots and foliar diseases, especially downy and powdery mildew. ‘Athena’, introduced several years ago, has become the industry standard and is largely responsible for the increased acreage. The object of this trial was to further evaluate outstanding varieties from the 2000 trial to identify slightly sutured, heavily netted cantaloupe varieties for potential production in west-central Florida.
Ten cantaloupe hybrids were direct seeded on 15 March in holes that were punched 2 ft apart in the black polyethylene mulch. The 20-ft long plots contained 10 plants each and were replicated four times in a randomized, complete block design. Weed control in row middles was by cultivation and application of paraquat. Pesticides were applied as needed for control of silverleaf whitefly (endosulfan), downy mildew (chlorothalonil, fosetyl-aluminum, azoxystrobin, thiophanate-methyl, and maneb), powdery mildew (trifoxystrobin), and lepidopterous larvae (Bacillus thuringiensis, spinosad, esfenvalerate, and methomyl).
Cantaloupes were harvested eight times beginning on 28 May and ending on 13 June. Marketable fruit were separated from culls that included fruit weighing less than 2.0 lb or that were cracked, rotted, or poorly shaped. Observations were made on fruit shape, sutures, and netting. Soluble solids were determined with a hand-held digital refractometer on several fruit from each entry on several harvest dates.
Early yields, as represented by the first two of eight harvests, ranged from 21 cwt/acre for ‘Odyssey’ to 483 cwt/acre for RML 8726-VP (Table 1). Average fruit weight of early-harvested cantaloupes varied from 4.8 lb for ‘Athena’ to 8.8 lb for ‘Minerva’.
Total marketable yields for the entire season varied from 514 cwt/acre for RML 9602-VP to 773 cwt/acre for RML 8793-VP (Table 1). Seven other entries had yields similar to those of RML 8793-VP. Average fruit weight ranged from 5.0 lb for ‘Athena’ and PXC 221 to 8.6 lb for RML 9601-VP which was statistically superior to all but one other entry. Soluble solids varied from 10.7% for RML 9602-VP to 13.2% for RML 8793-VP. Very good internal quality is used to describe cantaloupes containing not less than 11% soluble solids. Using this criterion, all but three entries qualify for the very good internal quality designation. Cull fruit was between 64 cwt/acre for RML 8793-VP and 298 cwt/acre for RML 8797-VP. The principal causes of cull fruit were stem-end cracks, fruit rots and misshapen fruit. Marketable fruit per plant varied from 1.7 for RML 8797-VP to 3.3 for ‘Athena’.
Previous cantaloupe variety evaluation trials were conducted at this location in the spring 1988, 1990, 1991, 1999 and 2000 seasons. Total marketable yields from cantaloupe hybrids in 2001 ranged from 514 cwt/acre to 773 cwt/acre, in 2000 yields varied from 265 cwt/acre to 681 cwt/acre; in 1999 they ranged from 382 cwt/acre to 660 cwt/acre; in 1991 yields varied from 327 cwt/acre to 547 cwt/acre and in 1990 yields ranged from 300 to 566 cwt/acre. Accordingly, yields in recent years are about 100 cwt/acre greater than those obtained a decade ago. In 2001, yields were still higher with the yields being related largely to large fruit size. Also, some of the more recently introduced hybrids are more dependable producers and have better shipping qualities than those previously available. ‘Athena’ remains the leading variety. However, growers may want to make trial plantings of ‘PXC 221’, ‘Odyssey’, ‘Eclipse’, or ‘Vienna’ to evaluate their performance on their own farms.
A complete report of this trial can be obtained from the author at
dnma@mail.ifas.ufl.eduTable 1. Early and total marketable yields, average fruit weight, soluble solids, cull weight, fruit per plant, and plant stands for cantaloupe. Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Bradenton. Spring 2001. |
|||||||||
Early Harvest1 |
Total Harvest |
||||||||
Entry |
Source |
Marketable (cwt/A)2 |
Avg fruit wt (lb) |
Marketable (cwt/A)2 |
Avg fruit wt (lb) |
Soluble solids (%) |
Cull fruit (cwt/A)2 |
Fruit per plant |
Plant Stand (%) |
RML 8793-VP |
Syngenta |
337 ab3 |
6.3 bc |
773 a |
6.0 d |
13.2 a |
64 c |
3.0 ab |
100 a |
RML 8726-VP |
Syngenta |
483 a |
8.0 ab |
766 a |
8.0 ab |
11.9 a-c |
135 bc |
2.3 bc |
98 a |
Minerva |
Syngenta |
29 d |
8.8 a |
746 ab |
7.7 bc |
12.2 a-c |
128 bc |
2.3 bc |
98 a |
Athena |
Syngenta |
124 cd |
4.8 c |
718 a-c |
5.0 e |
12.7 ab |
86 c |
3.3 a |
100 a |
RML 9601-VP |
Syngenta |
222 b-d |
8.4 a |
713 a-c |
8.6 a |
11.5 a-c |
179 a-c |
2.2 bc |
88 a |
PXC 221 |
Siegers |
71 d |
5.0 c |
681 a-c |
5.0 e |
12.1 a-c |
128 bc |
3.1 a |
100 a |
Odyssey |
Sunseeds |
21 d |
6.3 bc |
591 a-c |
6.1 d |
10.8 bc |
229 ab |
2.3 bc |
95 a |
RML 9603-VP |
Syngenta |
322 a-c |
7.3 ab |
581 a-c |
7.7 bc |
10.8 bc |
197 a-c |
2.1 c |
85 a |
RML 8797-VP |
Syngenta |
34 d |
8.2 a |
545 bc |
7.4 bc |
11.7 a-c |
298 a |
1.7 c |
98 a |
RML 9602-VP |
Syngenta |
124 cd |
7.0 ab |
514 c |
6.9 c |
10.7 c |
224 ab |
1.8 c |
98 a |
1 First two of eight harvests.2Acre = 8712 linear bed feet. 3Mean separation in columns by Duncan’s multiple range test, 5% level. 4Not determined. |
|||||||||
| Spring 2001 GCREC Tomato Variety Evaluation |
In 1999-2000, 43,200 acres of tomatoes were harvested in Florida, yielding 62.2 million 25-pound cartons worth over $418 million. Tomatoes accounted for almost 30% of the total value for all vegetables grown during 1999-2000, making it the most important vegetable produced in the state. The Palmetto-Ruskin area (west-central Florida) accounted for over 36% of the state’s total fresh market tomato production in 1999-2000.
A tomato variety trial was conducted in spring 2001 at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center - Bradenton located in west-central Florida to evaluate fresh market tomato varieties and breeding lines. Twenty-nine entries were evaluated in a replicated yield trial.
Seeds were sown on 9 January into planter flats (1.5 x 1.5 x 2.5-inch cells) containing a commercial mix (60% sphagnum peat moss and 40% vermiculite with 3 pounds dolomite, 1 pound Micromax [microelements] and 1 pound gypsum per yd3). Transplants were fertilized periodically with a liquid 20-20-20 (N-P205-K20) to sustain growth during production. Plants were conditioned before transplanting by limiting water and nutrients in the final phase of production.
The Eau Gallie fine sand in the experimental area was sampled before fertilization and analyzed by the University of Florida Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (Hanlon and DeVore, 1989): pH = 7.3 (target pH is 6.5) and Mehlich I extractable P = 147 (very high), K = 48 (medium), Mg = 114 (high), Ca = 1058 (adequate), Zn = 10.2 (adequate), Cu = 6.3 (adequate), and Mn = 8.8 (response possible) ppm. The land was prepared in early February. Beds were formed and fumigated with methylbromide:chloropicrin, 67:33 at 2.3 lb/100 lbf. Banded fertilizer was applied in shallow grooves on the bed shoulders at 2.52-0-3.50 lb N-P2O5-K2O/100 lbf after the beds were pressed and before the black polyethylene mulch was applied. The total fertilizer applied was equivalent to 220-0-305 lb N-P2O5-K2O/A. The final beds were 32-in. wide and 8-in. high, and were spaced on 5-ft centers with six beds between seepage irrigation/drainage ditches, which were on 41-ft centers.
Transplants were set in the field on 25 February and spaced 24 in. apart in single rows down the center of each bed. Transplants were immediately drenched with water containing 16 fl. oz/acre of imidacloprid for silverleaf whitefly control. Four replications of 10 plants per entry were arranged in a randomized complete block design in the replicated trial and single 10-plant plots were used in the observational trial. Plants were lightly pruned, staked, and tied.
Plants were scouted for pests throughout the season. Lepidopterous larvae, silverleaf whitefly, and russet mites were the primary insects found. Bacillus thuringiensis, abamectin, indoxacarb, spinosad, endosulfan and tebufenozide were used according to label instructions to manage insect pest populations during the season. A preventative spray program using maneb, copper hydroxide, azoxystrobin and chlorothalonil was followed for management of plant pathogens. Tomato yellow leaf curl virus plants were removed and disposed of early in the season, but were allowed to remain after the second tie.
Fruit were harvested at or beyond the mature-green stage on 17 and 31 May. Tomatoes were graded as cull or marketable by U.S. standards for grades and marketable fruit were sized by machine (see footnotes Tables 2, 3 for specifications). Marketable fruit were counted and weighed, cull fruit was weighed.
Early marketable yields ranged from 209 25-lb cartons for ‘Sanibel’ to 905 cartons/acre for BHN 543 (Table 1). Eighteen other entries had yields similar to BHN 543. Extra large fruit yield varied from 151 cartons/acre for ‘Sanibel’ to 765 cartons/acre for BHN 543. Fifteen other entries had early extra large fruit yields similar to those of BHN 543. Large fruit yields varied from 30 cartons/acre for BHN 442 to 182 cartons/acre for ASX 013. Average fruit weight for the early harvest ranged from 5.7 oz for ‘Solar Set’ to 8.0 oz for HA 3028. Plant stand was statistically similar for all the entries. Cull fruit by weight for the early harvests varied from 6% for PS 150535 to 61% for ‘Sanibel’. There was a high incidence of blossom-end rot throughout the trial. Other principal defects were large blossom scars, persistent green shoulders and rough shoulders.
Seasonal marketable yields from two harvests ranged from 1737 cartons/acre for SVR 1440598 to 2821 cartons/acre for ASX 013 (Table 2). Twenty-one entries had yields similar to those of ASX 013. All entries produced yields greater than the state average yield for spring 1999-2000 of 1693 cartons/acre (Witzig and Pugh, 2000).
Yields of extra large fruit varied from 1244 cartons/acre for ‘Sanibel’ to 2392 cartons/acre for BHN 543. Twenty-two other entries had extra large fruit yields similar to those of BHN 543. Large fruit yields ranged from 147 cartons/acre for SVR 1405037 to 771 cartons/acre for ASX 013. Cull fruit for the entire season varied from 12% for Fla. 7973, PS 150535, and ‘Florida 47’ to 32% for HA 3028. Blossom-end rot and persistent green shoulder affected fruit were the principal defects. Average fruit weight was from 5.8 oz for ‘Solar Set’ to 7.8 oz for ‘Florida 47’. The incidence of tomato yellow leaf curl virus infection was low and varied form none for PS 150535, BHN 442, Fla. 7816, HA 3057, HA 3028, and ‘Sanibel’ to 10% for BHN 575, but there was no significant difference among the entries.
Overall, total marketable yields surpassed those obtained at this location in recent spring seasons. In spring 2001, yields ranged from 1737 cartons/acre to more than 2800 cartons/acre.
The proportion of extra-large fruit was very high, e.g. about 86% of the BHN 543 and ‘Florida 91’ fruit were in this size category. Exceptional experimental hybrid performers in spring 2001 were ASX 013, Fla. 7973, ASX 911, PS 150535, HA 3026, Fla.7943, Fla. 7816, Fla. 7964, and ASX 174.
A complete report of this trial can be obtained from the author at dnma@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
Table 1. Seed source, early marketable yields, average marketable fruit weight, cull percentages, and plant stands for fresh market tomato entries in the first harvest, 17 May 2001. Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Bradenton. Spring 2001. |
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Entry |
Source |
Total |
X-Large |
Large |
Medium |
Culls (%)2 |
Avg Fruit Wt (oz) |
Plant |
------------------(cartons/A)1----------------- |
||||||||
BHN 543 |
BHN Research |
905 a3 |
765 a |
131 ab |
9 c |
12 bc |
7.8 a |
98 a |
ASX 013 |
Agrisales |
841 ab |
620 ab |
182 a |
39 ab |
16 bc |
6.7 a-d |
98 a |
PS 150535 |
Seminis |
749 a-c |
621 ab |
118 ab |
10 c |
6 c |
7.7 ab |
100 a |
ASX 911 |
Agrisales |
694 a-d |
590 a-c |
94 ab |
10 c |
17 bc |
7.3 a-c |
100 a |
HA 3057 |
Hazera |
666 a-e |
510 a-e |
111 ab |
45 a |
20 bc |
6.9 a-d |
88 a |
Flavormore 223 |
Harris Moran |
651 a-e |
494 a-e |
141 ab |
17 bc |
23 bc |
6.6 a-d |
100 a |
Florida 47 |
Seminis |
643 a-e |
569 a-d |
59 b |
14 bc |
22 bc |
7.4 a-c |
98 a |
RFT 0252 |
Syngenta |
638 a-e |
536 a-e |
83 ab |
18 bc |
25 bc |
7.9 a |
98 a |
HA 3028 |
Hazera |
573 a-e |
505 a-e |
61 b |
7 c |
28 bc |
8.0 a |
98 a |
RFT 6153 |
Syngenta |
563 a-e |
428 a-e |
123 ab |
11 c |
17 bc |
7.6 a-c |
90 a |
Florida 91 |
Seminis |
551 a-e |
457 a-e |
74 ab |
20 bc |
21 bc |
7.2 a-c |
98 a |
BHN | ||||||||