YIELD PERFORMANCE OF TOMATO CULTIVARS GROWN UNDER ORGANIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

On-fann trials were conducted during the spring season of 1999 and 2000 to evaluate the yield performance of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars grown under an organic management system. In 1999, twelve cultivars: 'Bonita', 'Celebrity', 'Colonial', 'Empire', 'Floramerica', 'Joker', 'Liberty', 'Merced', 'Mountain Pride', Olympic', 'Pilgrim' and 'Sunmaster' were grown under an organic management system consisting of mulching with grass straw, fertilizing with cow manure and using organic pesticides for insect control. Similar cultivars were evaluated in spring 2000, but due to lack of seed, 'Bonita' and 'Liberty' were replaced with cultivars 'Keepsake' and 'Mountain Fresh'. In 1999, significant differences (P