Performance of tomato genotypes in hydroponic system and fall/winter crop-season

Performance of tomato genotypes in hydroponic system and fall/winter crop-season Genotype, incident global solar radiation, temperature, nutrient, water and CO2 availability are some of the factors that in interaction can influence the growth of tomato plants. This study aimed to evaluate seven genotypes of tomato in relation to their biological productivity in hydroponics and fall/winter crop-season, characterized by low solar radiation availability, focusing vegetative and productive aspects, fotoassimilates partitioning and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) use efficiency in order to determine the most promising for greenhouse cultivation in southern Rio Grande do Sul. The experimental design was randomized blocks with 7 treatments (genotypes) and 3 replications with 6 plants per plot. Among the evaluated genotypes, five are minitomatoes: Cereja Pendente Yubi Feltrin (R) (determinated growth habit), Cereja Vermelho ISLA (R), Minitomate Pera Amarelo TOP SEED (R), Grape (no commercial), Flavor Top (no commercial). Also, Santa Cruz Kada Gigante TOP SEED (R) and Gaucho TOP SEED (R) tomato varieties were evaluated. Fresh and dry matter productivity (g m(-2)) of leaves, stems and fruits; leaf area; plant height and compactness; incident global and PAR solar radiations were evaluated. The genotypes Kada Gigante, of Santa Cruz group, and Cereja Pendente Yubi Feltrin (R), of determinated growth habit and minitomato group, presented higher fruit yield and PAR use efficiency. So, these genotypes can be considered the most promising for growing in low solar radiation availability crop-season.