Farming Systems Influence on Tomato Fruit Quality

Investigation was carried out at the Institute of Horticulture Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. Tomatoes were growth using two different farming systems (organic and conventional) in no heated greenhouses in the natural soil. The study object was tomato cultivar 'Vilina' and two tomato hybrids 'Benito' and 'Tolstoi'. Tomato fruit quality and physiological parameters were evaluated: there was established the amount of dry matter, soluble solids, lycopene and beta-carotene, also skin and flesh firmness and color coordinates (CIE L*, a*, b*, C, h(0)). Our research showed that higher dry matter and soluble solids content was found in organically growth tomato of all investigated cultivars compared with conventional growth tomato, but determined differences were not statistically significant. An average amount of lycopene in organic fruits was significant higher compared with conventional ones. A comparison of beta-carotene in organic and conventional tomato showed that significant higher amount was established only in organic fruits of hybrid 'Tolstoi'. Average data of fruit firmness revealed that conventional tomato fruits had stronger skin and flesh compared with organic ones, but difference was not significant. It was established significant increase in tomato fruit color tone (by 4.78 units) and pureness (by 2.46 units) in conventional tomato, meanwhile organic tomato fruits distinguished with significant higher value of color index a* (redness) by 4.18 units.