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The use of plant-based compost has been increasing within environmentally sustainable crop systems, as its incorporation into soil improves its structure and implies a slow release of nutrients to the plants. Due to the limited literature regarding compost application to industrial crops and the important role of the soil type, research was conducted on the industrial tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) hybrid Coronel F1 at the Department of Agricultural Sciences of Naples, University Federico II, in 2019 and 2020. The study was based on the factorial combination of three fertilization types (compost, compost + mineral, and mineral) and three soil textures (clayey, loamy, and sandy). The highest crop yield was observed in loamy soil with mineral fertilization (+12.7% compared to clayey and loamy soils; +12.1% and +60.3% compared to compost + mineral and compost, respectively). Compost application increased plant dry weight (+23% compared to mineral fertilization), while sandy soil had a lower dry residue (−3%). The combination of loamy soil and compost exhibited the highest fruit dry matter percentage (approximately 7%). These findings suggest that applying compost to industrial tomato plants, alone or with mineral fertilizers, improves fruit quality and promotes crop system sustainability, and the optimal strategy depends on the target crop and soil type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biostimulants help plants cope with environmental stresses and improve vegetable yield and quality. This study was conducted to determine the protein hydrolysate (PH) effect of three different durations (weekly applications: three, six, or nine times plus an untreated control) in factorial combination with four soil electrical conductivities (EC: 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, or 6.0 mS·cm−1) on yield, fruit quality, and elemental composition of tomato 'miniplum' grown in a greenhouse. Fruit yield was best affected, during the summer, by six and nine biostimulant applications at EC 3.0 mS·cm−1, and in the same season, the six treatments led to the highest fruit number with no difference compared to nine applications; during the winter, the three and six treatments improved the mentioned variables at each EC level. Fruits' dry residue and Brixo were positively affected by biostimulation both in summer and winter. In summer, the 6.0 mS·cm−1 EC led to the highest dry residue and Brixo values, though the latter did not show any significant difference compared to 4.5 mS·cm−1; in winter, the best results corresponded to 4.5 and 6.0 mS·cm−1. A higher beneficial effect of PH on fruit antioxidant status, i.e., lycopene, polyphenols, ascorbic acid levels, and lipophilic (LAA) and hydrophilic (HAA) activity, was recorded in winter compared with summer. Positive correlations between polyphenols and LAA, as well as ascorbic acid content and HAA were found for all EC and PH treatments. Most of the mineral elements tested demonstrated concentration stability, whereas the highest EC decreased P, Mg, Cu, and Se accumulation. The opposite effect was shown by PH application on Se and Mn levels, with P tending to increase. The concentrations of Fe, Zn, and Cu were the lowest under the longest duration of PH supply. These results further confirm the essential role of plant biostimulation in enhancing tomato yield and quality, with a particular focus on the treatment duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying new tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes with improved technological performances is an important requisite for achieving high yield and quality of industrial produce. An open-field experiment was carried out in southern Italy in order to assess the effects of three elongated tomato hybrids oriented to 'peeled' chain (Max 14802, Massaro, Taylor) in terms of crop productivity and nutritional value. The hybrid Taylor showed the highest marketable yield due to the highest fruit number, whereas Massaro showed the highest processing efficiency. Among the three genotypes compared, titratable acidity and fiber were highest in Max 14802 fruits (0.45 g anhydrous citric acid·100 g-1 and 0.94 g·100 g-1 respectively), Taylor was best ranking in terms of fat and sucrose content, and Massaro achieved the highest glucose, fructose and rutin accumulation. Compared to fresh fruits, peeled tomatoes attained higher values of total and soluble solids, reducing sugars, total polyphenols (referred to fresh weight), rutin and naringenin, but had a decreased value of colour coordinate a/b ratio. No significant differences between the three tomato cultivars were recorded in terms of sensorial traits. From the present research interesting clues have arisen regarding the best performances of the hybrid Taylor in terms of fruit yield and organic acid content, and of the hybrid Massaro regarding the processing efficiency and fruit health-beneficial properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]