Assessment of varieties of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) for yield, quality and economics under different growing conditions

The present investigation was planned and executed at Horticulture Instructional Farm, Department of Horticulture, Chimanbhai Patel College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar (Gujarat) during 2010. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomised Block Design with eight tomato varieties and two growing condition. Results of study inferred that, naturally ventilated polyhouse grown plants was recorded maximum individual fruit weight (38.24 g), fruit volume (46.74 cc), fruit diameter (4.46 cm), fruit length (3.80 cm) and acidity (0.43 per cent). However, maximum ascorbic acid content was found in open field grown fruits which were 11.70 mg. Among different varieties Pusa Hybrid-2 recorded maximum fruit length (4.35 cm) and individual fruit weight (41.44 gm), while Arka Saurabh showed maximum diameter (4.93 cm) and fruit volume (62.33 cc). It was further exhibited that variety Arka Alok recorded highest TSS per cent (4.75 per cent) and ascorbic acid (13.20 mg/100 g), whereas maximum acidity per cent was recorded by fruits of variety Arka Vikas (0.47 per cent). Pusa Hybrid-2 under NVP recorded maximum gross return (9, 88, 480), net return (8, 62, 124) and benefit: cost ratio (6.82: 1).