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Abstract
Mature green ‘Homestead’ tomatoes (Lycoperiscon esculentum Mill.) and 3 advanced breeding lines were treated with ethylene gas and some compositional parameters of the treated fruit were compared with those of control fruit. Tomato breeding line T3702j 2 showed a greater response to ethylene treatment than ‘Homestead’ and other advanced breeding lines carrying the crimson (og c) and high pigment-crimson (hp og c) genotypes. Ethylene treatment had negligible effects on the levels of soluble solids, dry matter, ascorbic acid, β-carotene, and lycopene in the genotypes studied. The mean pH of the treated samples was slightly higher than that of the control, but was not statistically significant in all cultivars or breeding lines every year. The data suggest that breeders should pay attention to the response of breeding lines and potential cultivars to ethylene-induced ripening.
Abstract
A newly described bacterial disease of ‘Honey Dew’ melons is caused by a strain of Erwinia herbicola. The disease first was found on ‘Honey Dew’ melons imported from Ecuador, and subsequently on melons from Guatemala, Venezuela, and California. The disease produces firm, tan to brown, slowly developing lesions that principally affect the rind tissue. The bacterium isolated from a California ‘Honey Dew’ melon was much more virulent and potentially more damaging than isolates from the other sources. We propose bacterial brown spot as the name of the disease.
Abstract
‘Patriot’ is a determinate tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) with excellent fruit color, developed primarily as a fresh-market or home-garden type. It is resistant to root knot and fusarium wilt.
Production of high tunnel tomatoes and snapdragons was evaluated over a 2-year period at the Wiregrass Experiment Station, in southeastern Alabama. `BHN 640', `Florida 91', `Sunleaper', and `Carolina Gold', were evaluated in early Spring 2004. Results indicated that `BHN 640' outperformed `Florida 91' and `Carolina Gold' in early production of high tunnel grown tomatoes. A late Fall 2005 study examined `BHN 640' and `Florida 91'. Results indicated that `BHN 640' was superior to `Florida 91' in total marketable fruit. Season extension of both spring and fall tomato production were accomplished. A planting date study was completed in the early Spring 2005. The following four planting dates were evaluated: 31 Jan., 17 Feb., 4 Mar., and 25. Mar 2005. Wind damage to the high tunnel caused some mortality; however, the two earliest planting dates (31 Jan. and 17 Feb. 2005) produced over 10 lbs. of marketable tomatoes per plant. These were both superior to the last planting date of 25 Mar 2005. Cut snapdragons were evaluated for suitable colored mulch (red, white, or blue) and varieties for summer (`Opus Yellow', `Opus Rose', `Monaco Red', and `Potomac Early White') and fall (`Apollo Purple', `Apollo Yellow', `Monaco Red', `Monaco Rose', and `Potomac Early Orange') production. Results indicated that inflorescence length was affected by the color of mulch. The red mulch had increased inflorescence length compared to the white in Summer 2005. The Fall 2005 study revealed that white mulch had longer inflorescence length than the red or blue mulch. Some varietal differences were observed. The `Apollo Purple' had longer stem lengths than all other varieties for the fall study. The summer study revealed that `Opus Yellow' had longer inflorescence lengths than all others but stem lengths were all similar.