Quality and Performance of Eight Tomato Cultivars in a Nutrient Film Technique System

Tests showed that fruits of eight tornato cultivars grown by nutrient film technique were significantly different in respect of mineral, soluble solids and acidity content and in electrical conductivity and firmness values. The cultivars also differed in yield, but there were no differences in nitrate or β-carotene content the fruit flavour of the cultivars was considered by taste panels to be similar. Fruit of all the cultivars stored well at 18-22 °C over a 14-day period. There was a rise and later a decline in the values for soluble solids, electrical conductivity and titratable acidity between the first {24 April) · and last (29 September) laboratory testing dates. Fruit grown by nutrient film technique had less Na, K, Mg, NO~ and alcohol-insoluble solids than fruit from peat or soil; values for Ca, vitan1in C and β-carotene were between those found in tomatoes from peat and soil