There has been an increasing demand for small-sized (cherry) tomatoes because they contain lycopene and other functional constituents, last for a long period of time, and are delicious to eat. However, since conventional cherry tomato cultivation methods involve guiding the vines upward and downward and other tasks that are labor-intensive, it is necessary to develop new cultivation techniques to save the energy required for cultivation management and reduce the labor required. In 2010, the authors developed a new method for open-field cherry tomato cultivation, in which the seedlings are planted more sparsely compared with conventional cultivation methods and most lateral shoots are left as they are. Although the new cultivation method, which is referred to as the sauvage method, is becoming popular across Japan, no studies have been conducted to compare the yield, quality, and growth rate of tomatoes between the sauvage and conventional cultivation methods. The present study aimed to establish the sauvage cultivation system as a new open-field cultivation method for summer-autumn-harvest cherry tomatoes. Two cherry tomato varieties with different characteristics were raised for two years using the sauvage and conventional cultivation methods, and the results were compared. The total yield and vendible crop yield per stock produced from the sauvage cultivation were larger, compared with conventional cultivation methods. In addition, the yield per area produced from the sauvage cultivation was expected to be equivalent to that from conventional cultivation methods, although the number of stocks per area was approximately one sixth. Furthermore, the sauvage cultivation method prevented the fruit from being sun-damaged. The sugar content of cherry tomatoes produced with sauvage cultivation was the same or lower, and the lycopene content was the same or higher, compared with conventional cultivation methods.
The quality of the pulp and flesh of fruits and vegetables is a key determinant of their commercial value. In the case of tomatoes, sugar content is an important index of their quality ; they also contain lycopene, which has proven health benefits. To preserve these components, non-destructive methods to evaluate the quality of tomatoes are required. For large-and medium-sized tomatoes, this can be achieved using visible near-infrared spectroscopy. To date, however, no calibration curves have been developed for non-destructive measurement of sugar and lycopene content of many different cherry ( mini ) tomatoes. In this study, we developed a non-destructive method to conduct rapid and simultaneous measurements of sugar and lycopene content in cherry tomatoes, and subsequently generated high -precision calibration curves that were incorporated into an existing measuring instrument. The correlation coefficients of the sugar and lycopene content were 0. 9 7 and 0. 9 6, respectively. Measurement of sugar and lycopene content of many different cherry tomatoes, regardless of their shape, color, and size, was conducted using the calibration curves, and the results were not influenced by the temperature of the fruit. The results of this study suggest that nondestructive methods can be applied to measure sugar and lycopene content of cherry tomatoes, and these methods will contribute to the branding and sale of these tomatoes.
Norabouna" is a leafy vegetable belonging to the Brassicaceae family and is a traditional cultivar in the western part of the Kanto region. However, the morphology of " Norabouna " in various local markets is not the same because local producers have their own seeds for production and they use different cultivation practices. Therefore, we evaluated the quality of "Norabouna"produced in different regions of Kanto by analyzing the morphology, composition, and toughness of flower stalks grown in different months ( March, April, and May ) by various producers. The analysis showed that the morphology of flower stalks differed according to the month of cultivation, thereby altering the condition of the packaged produce. This was one of the reasons for variation in the vegetable morphology between areas and producers, because they grew the plants in different months. In addition, the chemical composition and toughness of flower stalks varied between the growing months, areas of production, and the cultivation practice used by the producer. Moreover, compared with other leafy vegetables, "Norabouna" flower stalks had high ascorbic acid and sugar concentrations, giving them a pleasant taste. Therefore, "Norabouna" can potentially become a more widely produced leafy vegetable crop, but to achieve this, further studies are required to standardize the cultivation methods and stabilize the variations in the genetic stock.
Asparagus spears continue to grow even after harvest, but their quality may deteriorate over time. Therefore, methods for maintaining freshness are needed to ensure the quality and function of harvested asparagus spears. In this study, we examined the changes in the external appearance, Brix levels, moisture content, and hardness of sixth-year spears of 'Zenyu Yodel(NJ9 5 3) ' for spring harvest under varying conditions of transportation and storage, including their orientation during storage. Asparagus spears transported and stored at low ( chilling ) temperatures showed better quality characteristics than those transported and stored under non -chilling conditions. Furthermore, the quality of spears stored vertically in water was better than that of spears stored horizontally. Moreover, in the asparagus spears transported at low temperature, Brix levels were lower in spears stored in water than in those stored without water. Wilting was also not observed in the spears stored in water. These results suggest that transportation conditions, storage temperature, and orientation of the asparagus spears during storage influence their quality.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.