TOMATO PLANT CULTURE In the Field, Greenhouse, and Home Garden J. Benton Jones, Jr. CRC Press Boca Raton London New York Washington, D.C. © 1999 by CRC Press LLC Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Jones, J. Benton, 1930– Tomato plant culture : in the field, greenhouse, and home garden / by J. Benton Jones, Jr. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 0-8493-2025-9 1. Tomatoes. I. Title. SB349.J65 1998 635′.642—dc21 98-42149 CIP This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is quoted with permission, and sources are indicated. A wide variety of references are listed. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and the publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or for the consequences of their use. Neither this book nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The consent of CRC Press LLC does not extend to copying for general distribution, for promotion, for creating new works, or for resale. Specific permission must be obtained in writing from CRC Press LLC for such copying. Direct all inquiries to CRC Press LLC, 2000 Corporate Blvd., N.W., Boca Raton, Florida 33431. Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are only used for identification and explanation, without intent to infringe. © 1999 by CRC Press LLC No claim to original U.S. Government works International Standard Book Number 0-8493-2025-9 Library of Congress Card Number 98-42149 Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 Printed on acid-free paper Preface Tomato is the second most commonly grown vegetable crop in the world, potato being number one. Tomato is the number one vegetable grown in home gardens in the United States. Per capita fresh market tomato consumption continues to increase in much of the world, and tomato products are found in a great variety of processed foods. A long-term medical study has revealed that individuals who consume either fresh tomatoes or processed tomato products on a regular basis are less likely to have some forms of cancer than those who do not. Tomato fruit is rich in vitamin A and C and contains an antioxidant, lycopene. Much information exists on tomato plant physiology and fruit production prac- tices, including environmental and elemental plant requirements. Much of this data, however, is scattered among numerous books, journal articles, and professional and popular press publications. The last major scientific book on tomato, The Tomato Crop, was edited by Atherton and Rudich (1986). There have been significant advances made in tomato plant culture, particularly those related to greenhouse production, an industry that is rapidly expanding in many parts of the world. This book consolidates some of the essential data that have been published on tomato culture, focusing on the most recent literature, which includes the cultural charac- teristics of the plant, fruit production and related quality factors, and the environ- mental and nutritional requirements for both field- and greenhouse-grown plants. An interesting book on the history of the tomato in the United States was written by Andrew Smith (1994). The book also includes recipes. The major objective of this publication is to provide the reader with factual information about tomato plant culture and fruit production, information that will be beneficial to plant scientists and commercial field and greenhouse growers as well as to the home gardener. © 1999 by CRC Press LLC About the Author J. Benton Jones, Jr. is vice president of Micro-Macro International, an analytic laboratory specializing in the assay of soil, plant tissue, water, food, animal feed, and fertilizer. He is also president of his own consulting firm, Benton Laboratories; vice president of a video production company engaged in producing educational videos; and president of a new company, Hydro-Systems, Inc., which manufactures hydroponic growing systems. Dr. Jones is Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia. He retired from the university in 1989 after having completed 21 years of service plus 10 years as Professor of Agronomy at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Illinois in 1952 in agricultural science and a M.S. degree in 1956 and a Ph.D. degree in 1959 in agronomy from the Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Jones is the author of over 200 scientific articles and 15 book chapters, and has written 4 books. He was editor of two international journals, Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis for 24 years and the Journal of Plant Nutrition for 19 years. Dr. Jones is secretary–treasurer of the Soil and Plant Analysis Council, a scientific society that was founded in 1969; and has been active in the Hydroponic Society of America from its inception, serving on its board of directors for 5 years. He has traveled extensively with consultancies in the Soviet Union, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Costa Rica, Cape Verde, India, Hungary, Kuwait, and Indonesia. Dr. Jones has received many awards and recognition for his service to the science of soil testing and plant analysis. He is a certified soil and plan scientist under the ARPACS program of the American Society of Agronomy, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, and Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America. An award in his honor, the J. Benton Jones, Jr. Award, established in 1989 by the Soil and Plant Analysis Council, has been given to four international soil scientists, one in each of the years 1991, 1993, 1995, and 1997. Dr. Jones received an Honorary Doctor’s Degree from the University of Horticulture, Budapest, Hungary; and is a member of three honorary societies, Sigma Xi, Gamma Sigma Delta, and Phi Kappa Phi. He is listed in Who’s Who in America as well as a number of other similar biographical listings. © 1999 by CRC Press LLC Acknowledgments The author wishes to thank the following individuals for supplying book chapters, research publications, and bulletins which provided information that significantly added to the subject matter presented in this book. Dr. Stanley Kays University of Georgia Athens, GA Dr. Donald N. Maynard University of Florida Bradenton, FL Mr. Christos C. Mpelkas Controlled Environment Technologies Lynn, MA Dr. A. P. Papadopoulos Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre Harrow, Ontario, Canada Dr. Mary M. Peet North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC Dr. Richard G. Snyder Mississippi State University Crystal Springs, MS © 1999 by CRC Press LLC Contents Chapter 1 Introduction Historical Background Botanical Name Common Names Production Statistics Off-Season Production Field- versus Greenhouse-Grown Fruit Home Gardening The Internet Chapter 2 Plant Characteristics and Physiology Plant Form and Cultural Systems Plant Forms Field Production Greenhouse Production Flower Characteristics Pollination Fruit Characteristics Temperature Requirements Photosynthetic Characteristics Light Quality Carbon Dioxide Water Requirement Chapter 3 Fruit Characteristics Physical Quality Factors Nutritional Content Lycopene Salicylates pH Sun-Dried Fruit Government Quality Factors © 1999 by CRC Press LLC Size Color Classification Tolerance Classification of Defects Definitions Ripening and Color Development Days to Maturity Storage and Ripening Home Long-Term Storage Factors Affecting Fruit Quality Commonly Occurring Fruit Disorders Cracking Catfacing Misshapen Fruit Puffiness Blossom-End Rot Sunscald (Solar Injury) Green Shoulders Russeting Anther Scarring Blotchy Ripening Flavor Fruit Color Freedom from Pest Chemicals Washing Fresh Fruit from the Field Fruit Packaging Useful Units Chapter 4 Plant Nutrition Essential Elements Structural Elements Mineral Elements Elemental Form Nitrogen (N) Iron (Fe) Critical Major Elements Calcium (Ca) Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) Micronutrients Essential Element Levels Nutrient Element Uptake Patterns with Time Visual Symptoms of Deficiency and Excess © 1999 by CRC Press LLC Beneficial Elements Plant Nutrient Element Management Plant Analysis Sampling Instructions Decontamination Drying and Shipping Interpretation Laboratory Services Tissue Testing Concentration Units Chapter 5 Field Production in Soil Soil Physical Characteristics Subsoil Characteristics Soil Fertility Requirements Soil pH Soil Salinity Irrigation Water Quality Fertilizer Recommendations Major Elements Micronutrients Nutrient Content and Removal Drip Irrigation and Fertigation Soil Testing Plant Population and Spacing Commercial Production Home Garden Spacing Fruit Yield Production Commercial Home Gardening Home Garden Production Procedures Organically Grown Chapter 6 Greenhouse Tomato Production Current and Future Status Factors Affecting Greenhouse Production Greenhouse Structures Site Location Water Quality Cultural Practices Plant Spacing and Density © 1999 by CRC Press LLC Planting Schedules Pruning and Training Sanitation Practices Tomato Plant Maintenance Flower Pollination Cluster Pruning Worker Skills and Habits Integrated Pest Management Plant Culture Systems Hydroponic Growing Ebb and Flow