Yield and Quality Traits of Tomato ‘San Marzano’ Type as Affected by Photo-Selective Low-Density Polyethylene Mulching
The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of differently colored low-density polyethylene mulching films (black, silver/brown, and yellow/brown) in comparison with bare soil (BS) on soil temperatures, yield and yield components (number of fruit and average fruit weight), and fruit qu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/2/315 |
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| author | Maria Isabella Sifola Ida Di Mola Eugenio Cozzolino Lucia Ottaiano Sabrina Nocerino Riccardo Riccardi Patrizia Spigno Mauro Mori |
| author_facet | Maria Isabella Sifola Ida Di Mola Eugenio Cozzolino Lucia Ottaiano Sabrina Nocerino Riccardo Riccardi Patrizia Spigno Mauro Mori |
| author_sort | Maria Isabella Sifola |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of differently colored low-density polyethylene mulching films (black, silver/brown, and yellow/brown) in comparison with bare soil (BS) on soil temperatures, yield and yield components (number of fruit and average fruit weight), and fruit quality traits (color, firmness, total soluble solids content, polyphenols, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and antioxidant activity) of a ‘San Marzano’ tomato crop grown in Southern Italy over two years (2014 and 2015). The warmer season (2015) shortened the cropping cycle (124 vs. 178 days, 2015 vs. 2014), thereby accelerating fruit ripening and improving firmness and redness (on average, the color parameter a/b was greater than in 2014). It determined the best yield response (53 vs. 44 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>) by increasing the number of commercial fruits per unit land area despite the lower average fresh weight (AFW) than the first year. Regardless of the different plastic films, in both years, soil heat storage produced by mulching improved yield as compared to BS and showed a positive and significant effect on the contents of total soluble solids, polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids without affecting the antioxidant activity. The highest values of quality traits were reached in the second year with silver and yellow mulches. Therefore, since the colored mulching films (yellow and silver) had a contradictory effect on yield and quality in the two years, further investigation is desirable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:46:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e8bfd19920ba417fa9fdf0d28ee7f7b9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:46:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-e8bfd19920ba417fa9fdf0d28ee7f7b92024-02-23T15:04:09ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-01-0114231510.3390/agronomy14020315Yield and Quality Traits of Tomato ‘San Marzano’ Type as Affected by Photo-Selective Low-Density Polyethylene MulchingMaria Isabella Sifola0Ida Di Mola1Eugenio Cozzolino2Lucia Ottaiano3Sabrina Nocerino4Riccardo Riccardi5Patrizia Spigno6Mauro Mori7Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyCouncil for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA)—Research Center for Cereal and Industrial Crops, 81100 Caserta, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyARCA 2010 S.c.a.r.l., Via G. Leopardi 18, 81030 Teverola, ItalyARCA 2010 S.c.a.r.l., Via G. Leopardi 18, 81030 Teverola, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyThe aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of differently colored low-density polyethylene mulching films (black, silver/brown, and yellow/brown) in comparison with bare soil (BS) on soil temperatures, yield and yield components (number of fruit and average fruit weight), and fruit quality traits (color, firmness, total soluble solids content, polyphenols, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and antioxidant activity) of a ‘San Marzano’ tomato crop grown in Southern Italy over two years (2014 and 2015). The warmer season (2015) shortened the cropping cycle (124 vs. 178 days, 2015 vs. 2014), thereby accelerating fruit ripening and improving firmness and redness (on average, the color parameter a/b was greater than in 2014). It determined the best yield response (53 vs. 44 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>) by increasing the number of commercial fruits per unit land area despite the lower average fresh weight (AFW) than the first year. Regardless of the different plastic films, in both years, soil heat storage produced by mulching improved yield as compared to BS and showed a positive and significant effect on the contents of total soluble solids, polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids without affecting the antioxidant activity. The highest values of quality traits were reached in the second year with silver and yellow mulches. Therefore, since the colored mulching films (yellow and silver) had a contradictory effect on yield and quality in the two years, further investigation is desirable.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/2/315antioxidant activityascorbic acidfruit colorpolyphenols<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.total soluble solids |
| spellingShingle | Maria Isabella Sifola Ida Di Mola Eugenio Cozzolino Lucia Ottaiano Sabrina Nocerino Riccardo Riccardi Patrizia Spigno Mauro Mori Yield and Quality Traits of Tomato ‘San Marzano’ Type as Affected by Photo-Selective Low-Density Polyethylene Mulching Agronomy antioxidant activity ascorbic acid fruit color polyphenols <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L. total soluble solids |
| title | Yield and Quality Traits of Tomato ‘San Marzano’ Type as Affected by Photo-Selective Low-Density Polyethylene Mulching |
| title_full | Yield and Quality Traits of Tomato ‘San Marzano’ Type as Affected by Photo-Selective Low-Density Polyethylene Mulching |
| title_fullStr | Yield and Quality Traits of Tomato ‘San Marzano’ Type as Affected by Photo-Selective Low-Density Polyethylene Mulching |
| title_full_unstemmed | Yield and Quality Traits of Tomato ‘San Marzano’ Type as Affected by Photo-Selective Low-Density Polyethylene Mulching |
| title_short | Yield and Quality Traits of Tomato ‘San Marzano’ Type as Affected by Photo-Selective Low-Density Polyethylene Mulching |
| title_sort | yield and quality traits of tomato san marzano type as affected by photo selective low density polyethylene mulching |
| topic | antioxidant activity ascorbic acid fruit color polyphenols <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L. total soluble solids |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/2/315 |
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