Does greenhouse covering material affect fruit quality of hydroponic tomatoes?

29th International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture - Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC) / International Symposium on Innovation and New Technologies in Protected Cropping -- AUG 17-22, 2014 -- Brisbane, AUSTRALIAWOS: 000378731500032The aim of this study was to determine the effects of covering material on fruit quality of cluster tomatoes grown under commercial conditions in high technology greenhouses (HTG) heated by geothermal energy in Turkey. Tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum 'Climberley') were grown between August 2012 and July 2013 in perlite under polyethylene (PE) and glass covered greenhouses belonging to a commercial company in Bergama. Fruit samples were taken monthly from December up to July. Cluster weight and fruit number per cluster, average fruit weight, fruit colour, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, vitamin C content, antioxidant activity and total phenolic content were determined; sensory evaluations were also performed. Fruit quality of cluster tomatoes grown in HTG varied during the season. Effect of covering material on fruit quality was not significant for whole season. Cluster weight was not influenced by covering material. Since plants had the same number of clusters in both greenhouses, yield difference was not expected between PE and glass covers. Therefore, PE film seems more appropriate for HTG in Mediterranean climate since it requires lower investment cost.Int Soc Hort Sc