QUALITY OF TOMATOES GROWN UNDER A PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT AND FIELD CONDITIONS

Abstract

The growth environment of a tomato affect its composition. To quantify such effects, two experiments were carried out, one in a protected environment (greenhouse covered with a plastic film) and the other (unprotected natural) under field conditions, using the tomato cultivar 'Santa Clara', the hybrid 'Carmem' and the accession 'BGH-320'. Fruits produced in the field had higher TSS/TA ratio, acidity and had more reducing sugar, ascorbic acid, and TSS than those produced in protected conditions. Among the tomato genotypes evaluated, 'Carmem' and 'Santa Clara' fruits had higher TSS/TA ratio than accession 'BGH-320' fruit, contained a higher content of reducing sugars and had a higher pH. Fruits of accession 'BGH-320' were more acidic and had a higher lycopene content than those of the 'Carmem' and 'Santa Clara'. The ascorbic acid content of 'Santa Clara' fruit was higher than that of the other genotypes. No difference was found in the potassium contents of fruits among the genotypes grown in the same environment. However, when comparing environments, 'Santa Clara' tomato fruit had a higher potassium level when grown under field conditions.