Elizabeth T. Maynard

Dept. of Horticulture, Purdue University North Central, Westville, IN 46391

Fresh market tomatoes were evaluated at the Pinney-Purdue Ag Center in Wanatah, Indiana. Fourteen cultivars were evaluated in a replicated trial, and 26 cultivars in an unreplicated observation trial. Half of the plants of each cultivar were pruned, and half were not, to evaluate pruning effects on yield and fruit quality. Details of cultural practices and data collection are listed below.

Table 1 shows the results averaged across pruning treatments for cultivars in the replicated trial. U.S. No. 1 yield ranged from 7.9 to 18.9 lb. per plant (344 to 823 cwt./A). Floralina, Sunleaper, and Florida 47 were the highest yielding cultivars. Real (statistically significant) differences in yield were limited to comparisons between the few highest and lowest-yielding cultivars. The earliest variety was SunShine, followed by SunChief. SunShine produced higher quality fruit than SunChief, largely due to excessive cracking in SunChief. Early yield of No. 1 fruit, in pounds per plant, was highest for SunShine, followed by Sunleaper, PS771297, Floralina, SunChief, Red Sun, and Emperador, which had similar early yields. Of these, Sunleaper and Floralina had the smallest percentage of culls. Late cultivars included Leila, Florida 91, Mt. Fresh, and Florida 47. Fruit quality was good in these varieties, with the exception of Leila which tended to crack. Florida 91, Red Sun, Emperador, and Carolina Gold produced the largest fruit (9.1 oz. or greater), and the highest percentages of maximum large fruit. Florida 47, Floralina, Leila, Mt. Fresh, Mt. Spring, PS 771297, SunChief, and SunShine produced fruit between 8 and 9 oz. FM 223 and Sunleaper had the smallest fruit (less than 7.5 oz.). This was a good year to evaluate cracking because we saw more cracking than usual. Varieties particularly prone to cracking included Carolina Gold, Emperador, Leila, SunChief, and Red Sun. We also saw more blossom end rot than usual. Red Sun and Carolina Gold tended to have more BER than average. Catfacing was relatively low this year. SunShine, Mt. Spring, and PS 771297 had the highest rates, between 4% and 10%. Based on this trial, recommended cultivars are: SunShine (very early), Floralina (high yield, good quality, main season), Florida 47 (high yield, good quality, late main season), Florida 91 (large fruit, good quality, late main season), Mt. Fresh (good quality, main season), Sunleaper (good yield, smaller fruit, good quality, early main season, heat-tolerant). Carolina Gold is of interest because of its golden yellow color and large fruit.

Pruning made a large difference in No. 1 yield, fruit size, and fruit quality (Tables 1 and 2). Averaged over all cultivars, pruning reduced yield of No. 1 fruit by 41%, increased fruit size by 19%, and increased percentage of cull fruit by one-third (Table 1). The increase in culls was due in large part to increased cracking of fruit from pruned plots: pruning more than doubled the percentage of cracked fruit. The effect of pruning on early yield (measured as pounds of No.1 fruit harvested in the first three harvests) depended on the cultivar. Early yield of Florida 91 was more than doubled by pruning (Table 2). Early yield of Sunleaper, SunChief, and Red Sun was decreased by 1/3 to 1/2 by pruning. Pruning removed branches which would produce yield later in the season, and so for all cultivars the percentage of total yield harvested early was higher for pruned plants. Based on these results, pruning would be advised only when larger fruit size is essential, and/or the harvest period will be short, i.e. three weeks rather than six weeks. For pruning to be profitable, the labor cost of pruning and the reduction in total yield must be offset by higher prices or other market advantage.

Results for the 26 cultivars in the observation trial are presented in Table 3. Seven of the cultivars were harvested for the full 6 weeks: three roma types and four large-fruited types. Of the roma types, BHN 411 was the earliest and had the best quality fruit and greatest marketable yield. Of the large-fruited types, BHN 543 and BHN 329 had the best quality fruit. BHN 543 was similar in earliness to Emperador, and BHN 329 was similar to Leila, based on percent of marketable yield in first three harvests. Effects of pruning were similar to the replicated trial.

The remaining 19 cultivars in the observation trial were harvested for a period of three weeks. These cultivars included home garden types, traditional commercial cultivars, newer commercial cultivars, and heirloom varieties. Eleven were medium to large-fruited. Fruit quality of Paragon, Ultra Sweet, and Voyager was reasonable and these varieties would be worth considering for local sales. Fantom and Red Rider fruit were attractive, but cull percentage was high for commercial use. Presto, Big Beef, and Rutgers produced large fruit (over 10 oz. on unpruned plants), but percentage of culls was high. Beefsteak produced large fruit weighing nearly a pound, but nearly all were severely catfaced. Daniela is a very attractive, small-fruited, very firm, long-shelf-life type. Jet Star and Monte Verde produced attractive fruit, but were so late that the yield of three harvests didn't give an adequate picture of the varieties. The remaining seven cultivars were a mix of cherry, pear, and roma. The orange cherry Sun Gold was remarkable for its flavor, but cracked easily when ripe. Red and Yellow Pear would make a nice combination for specialty markets. Santa was a slightly oblong cherry; quite attractive with a tart flavor. Juliet is best described as a miniature roma in shape, rich red in color, shiny, and resistant to cracking making it very attractive. This variety was meaty and firm. Principe Borghese is an heirloom canning variety with small nearly spherical fruit which remained attached to the plant long after ripe. Pruning drastically reduced the yield of this variety, and both pruned and unpruned plants appeared especially susceptible to diseases. Banana Legs is an heirloom yellow long-fruited type: a pointed, asymmetrical roma. In general the effect of pruning on these varieties was similar to the replicated trial.