International Journal of Horticulture 2015, Vol.5, No.14, 1
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1.10 Titrable acidity (mg/100 ml)
From processing point of view, titrable acidity has
great significance. According to Guold and Berry
(1972), a tomato variety for processing should have
acid contents ranging from 0.35% to 0.55%. High
acidity prevents microbial activities in processed
products. During three years of study, the hybrid
HS-18 has the highest titrable acidity (0.56), while
TAI-687 (0.45) has the lowest titrable acidity.
Similar result was also reported by Hossain et al.
(2010). Singh (2011) also reported that ‘TH-23’
recorded maximum fruit acidity (0.65) and ‘Hyb-432’
recorded minimum fruit acidity (0.35) under
polyhouse.
1.11 Ascorbic acid content (mg/100 ml)
High ascorbic acid in tomato aids in better retention of
natural colour and flavour of the products (Thamburaj,
1998). There were significant differences for ascorbic
acid content in these hybrids. In present study it was
observed that the hybrid HS-18 (20.65) recorded
highest ascorbic acid followed by Dev (19.66), G-600
(19.11) and TAI-687 (18.57) over all the three years.
Singh (2011) also reported that ‘ARTH-128’
recorded maximum ascorbic acid content (20.63)
and ‘To-Ind-Hyb/4’ recorded minimum ascorbic
acid content (14.03) under net/poly house. Similar to this
study Thakur and Kaushal (1995); Gupta et al. (2011)
reported that ascorbic acid content ranged from 19.88
to 27.68; 19.50 to 30.06 and 27.82 to 31.33 mg per
100 g in different tomato genotypes.
1.12 Carotene content (mg/100 g)
As far as carotene content is concerned, there
were significant differences in these hybrids. The
hybrid G-600 recorded maximum carotene content
(8.25) followed by TAI-687 (5.73) and HS-18
(5.36). Singh (2011) observed maximum carotene content
in ‘NP-1001’ (4.11). Data corresponds to earlier
study by Nainwal et al. (1992); Gupta et al.
(2011), who reported β-carotene content range
from 4.80 to 5.30 and 5.40 and 6.78 mg per 100 g
in different tomato genotypes.
1.13 Lycopene content (mg/100 g)
Lycopene is one of major character controlling the
fruit colour which affects the quality of tomato. There
were significant differences for lycopene content in
these hybrids. The highest value for lycopene was
observed in G-600 (5.49) followed by TAI-687 (4.72)
and HS-18 (4.40). Data corresponds to earlier study
by Nainwal et al. (1992); Gupta et al. (2011), who
reported lycopene content range from 1.40 to 4.15 and
3.23 to 4.03 mg per 100 g in different genotypes
of tomato.
2 Materials and Methods
2.1 Experimental material
The present investigation with 22, 11 and 4 tomato
hybrids collected from different sources was
carried out during 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11,
respectively under polyhouse at Vegetable Research
Farm, Department of Vegetable Science, PAU,
Ludhiana. Four genotypes from Sungrow Seeds
(Hyb. No. 428, Hyb. No. 3618, Hyb. No. 3229
and Hyb. No. 3232), two from Namdhari Seeds
(NS-585 and NS-524) and one from Syngenta
Seeds (TAI-778) was received for first time in
2009-10 and rest of four hybrids out of eleven
viz
. HS-18, DEV, TAI-687 and G-600 were
already evaluated during 2008-09. The best
performing genotypes in 2008-09 and 2009-10
viz
. HS-18, DEV, TAI-687 and G-600 were tested
for yield and quality traits during 2010-11.
2.2 Soil preparation of experimental field
The soil in the polyhouse was sterilized before the
nursery sowing and transplanting of crop with 2%
formalin solution @ 4-5 litres/m
2
. The soil was then
covered with polythene sheet of 100 gauze thickness
for 48 hrs. After 2 days, polysheet was removed and
the soil stirred for another 3 days for complete
elimination of formalin before transplanting of the
crop.
The sowing of tomato genotypes was done
on 03 October, 2008; 04 September, 2009 and 29
September, 2010 during three years on nursery beds
made within the polyhouse. In polyhouse of 500
square meters, 4 kg urea, 20 kg super phosphate and
5.5 kg of muriate of potash was applied before
transplanting. The seedlings were transplanted on 26
October, 2008; 15 October, 2009 and 25 October, 10
at plant distance of 30 cm. There were nine
plants in each treatment and the experiment was
laid out in randomized complete block design
having two replications (Cochran and Cox, 1960).
The first irrigation was applied immediately after
transplanting. Thereafter, 12 Kg urea was applied in
three equal dose at 25, 45, 90 days after transplanting.
The crop is ready for picking in the last week of
February and continues giving fruits till mid-July.
