Effects of Inherited Differences in Growth Habit on Fruit Size and Soluble Solids in Tomato1

Abstract

Different growth habits in the same genetic background were produced by backcross programs to obtain determinate, sp, indeterminate, sp+, jointless, j, and dwarf, d, forms of each of 3 varieties, ‘Gardener,’ ‘Fireball,’ and ‘Cornell 54-149.’ Compared at 2 spacings, 6 × 1.5 ft and 6 × 0.5 ft, indeterminate and jointless plants had larger fruit and higher soluble solids than determinate plants in all varietal backgrounds and at both spacings. The magnitude of the differences varied with varietal background. Dwarf plants produced smaller fruit than non-dwarf plants but with no difference in soluble solids. Closer plant spacings within the row resulted in both smaller size and decreased soluble solids of fruit.

Stability in Fruit Yield, Soluble Solids, and Citric Acid of Eight Machine-harvested Processing Tomato Cultivars in Northern Ohio

“…Fruit solid levels in tomatoes are influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Dry weather at harvest favors high fruit solids (8,13). In this study also, a marked variation in soluble solids across the seasons was observed, but, under these experimental conditions, dry weather during harvest time did not increase soluble solids content (Table 3).…”

“…In this study, yield stability of eight cultivars was assessed using the Finley and Wilkinson (9) procedure. Solids and acidity are two of the most important quality attributes in processing tomatoes (8,11). Variation in soluble solids and citric acids of these eight cultivars and the relationship between soluble solids and fruit yield of several cultivars across several seasons were investigated.…”

Modification of Plant Architecture and Crop Yield by Breeding1

“…Differences in plant habit affect the relationship between yield and soluble solids in tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Emery and Munger (21), using near-isogenic tomato lines of determinate and indeterminate plant habit, observed that indeterminate lines had higher fruit weight and higher solids content. This was attributed to a greater leaf area supplying photosynthate to adjacent fruit in the indeter minate plants while only 2 leaf nodes occur between fruit nodes on determi nate plants.…”

Sink Strength of Fruits of Two Tomato Genotypes Differing in Total Fruit Solids Content1

“…A high leaf area/fruit ratio is 1 explanation for genotypic differences in solids content of tomato fruits (1,3). However, a large leaf area does not insure high fruit solids and large leaf area may create problems for mechanical harvesting (3).…”