OPTIMIZING DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY IN CHERRY TOMATO CULTIVARS: INSIGHTS FROM MICROCLIMATE CONTROL COVERS AND WATERING CAPACITIES

Abstract

The global agricultural landscape has undergone a substantial shift towards sustainable and regulated cultivation practices for cherry tomatoes in recent decades, leading to the widespread adoption of greenhouse farming as a popular alternative. The research was conducted at the Bale Tatanen, Faculty of Agriculture, Padjadjaran University, Jatinangor, Sumedang Regency, from December 2022 – May 2023. The objectives of the study include identifying better cultivars (Ruby & Fortesa) in microclimate control covers (greenhouse, rain shelter and screen house) by providing watering capacities (100% ETc, 75% ETc and 50% ETc). The choice of cultivar markedly influences disease susceptibility. Notably, the "Ruby" cultivar exhibited a consistently higher vulnerability to various diseases, particularly Fusarium oxysporum, late blight, fruit cracking, and blossom end rot. Conversely, the "Fortesa" cultivar demonstrated lower susceptibility, underscoring the potential of cultivar selection as a disease management strategy. Various microclimate control coverings have shown varying degrees of effectiveness in disease prevention. The greenhouse environment was the most effective in protecting against fruit cracking, blossom end rot, pest infestations, and fruit ailments. In contrast, the screen house consistently displayed the highest disease susceptibility, underscoring the need to evaluate growing structures to mitigate disease risks meticulously. The study also revealed the critical role of watering capacities in disease management. Plants receiving 100% ETc consistently exhibited a lower prevalence of several illnesses, highlighting the importance of maintaining optimal soil moisture levels through precise irrigation practices in disease prevention. Cultivar selection significantly affects disease susceptibility in cherry tomato cultivation, with the "Ruby" cultivar showing higher vulnerability and the "Fortesa" cultivar demonstrating lower susceptibility. Effective disease management can be achieved by adopting greenhouse environments and a watering capacity of 100% ETc, emphasizing the importance of these factors in sustainable cherry tomato production in the agroclimatic condition of Jatinangor.