Organic EprintsEffect of variety choice and use of resistant rootstock on crop yield and quality parameters of tomato plants grown in organic, low input and conventional production systems/growth mediaA.TheodoropoulouauthorC.GiotisauthorJ.HuntauthorJ.GilroyauthorE.ToufexiauthorA.Liopa-TsakalidisauthorA.MarkellouauthorL.LueckauthorC.SealauthorC.LeifertauthorSoil-borne diseases are one of the most important problems in organic and other ‘low input’ soil-based greenhouse production systems. While chemical soil disinfection has been the method of choice in conventional farming systems, soil steaming has been the main strategy for the control of soil borne diseases in organic production. Both methods are extremely expensive and have been increasingly restricted for environmental reasons by government and organic standard setting bodies respectively. The use of tolerant varieties and of grafting onto resistant rootstocks were evaluated as potential replacements for soil steaming in organic and low input systems and found to be as effective in reducing root disease and increasing root fresh weight, fruit yield and number. The effects on fruit yield and quality characteristics were then further evaluated using different varieties for grafting and different growth media typically used in (a) organic (soil amended with manure), and (b) conventional (perlite fertilised with mineral fertilisers via the irrigation system) growth media/fertilisation regimes, and also a (c) novel “low input” growth medium designed to provide better aeration of the rooting zone. Fruit numbers, diameters and weights and total fruit yields were significantly different between growth media and highest for plants grown in the “low input” system, slightly lower for plants grown in the perlite and lowest for plants grown in the organic system. The potential for replacing chemical and steam soil disinfection methods in organic and ‘low input’ soil based greenhouse production systems is discussed.Crop health, quality, protection Breeding, genetics and propagation Vegetables2007Conference paper, poster, etc.

Deposit Agreement

In depositing this eprint (a collection of files and associated bibliographic metadata), I grant Organic Eprints the right to make it permanently available on-line, with open access to all or in accordance with any access restrictions that I have specified. (Removal of eprints from the public archive is strongly discouraged, but will be granted upon request.)
I understand that Organic Eprints does not assume any responsibility if there is any breach of copyright in distributing these files or metadata.

For work being deposited by its own first author: I declare that this eprint is my own intellectual property and that I have the right to make it available in Organic Eprints in the manner chosen.

For work being deposited by someone other than its first author: I declare that I have gained the proper permissions from someone with the right to make this eprint available in Organic Eprints in the manner chosen - or that the material is in the public domain.

Clicking on the deposit button indicates your agreement to these terms. If you do not wish to deposit the eprint right now you can return to your user area, where you will find this eprint in your workspace. You can then later edit, clone and deposit it.