Articles
The long-term sustainability of the California tomato processing industry – some disturbing observations and potential solutions
Article number
1445_2
Pages
5 – 12
Language
English
Abstract
California average tomato yields ha‑1 have not increased from 2012 to 2023, despite continual introduction of improved cultivars, other technical advances, and increasing ambient carbon dioxide concentration.
This yield plateau coincides with complete adoption of SDI by California tomato growers.
The objective of our research was to determine which factors might be responsible for the yield ha‑1 plateau in California, and hence to investigate potential solutions.
The % of flower abortions truss‑1 on tomato paste plants grown in SDI fields in California was found to be 2-3 times higher than on tomato paste cultivars grown under center pivot irrigation in Brazil and Central Washington.
Low oxygen concentration in root zones of SDI crops is considered a major factor.
A second major factor is an increase in soil-borne fungal diseases caused by a reduction in the tomato rotation period.
Vine-decline/foot-crown-rot disease (FCR) is an increasing threat to tomato yield.
We consistently isolated Fusarium falciforme, Setophoma terrestris and Plectosphaerella cucumerina from diseased plants.
The disease begins in young roots and progressively develops during the growing season, eventually rotting the crown of the plant and killing it.
Higher populations of short-season cultivars of tomatoes will minimize loss of yield from FCR. Grafted plants with long-life root stocks could also be beneficial.
Other threats to the sustainability of the tomato crop come from the development of new races of the vascular pathogens, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and Verticillium dahliae, and government restrictions on irrigation water, agricultural chemicals, and fertilizer use.
This yield plateau coincides with complete adoption of SDI by California tomato growers.
The objective of our research was to determine which factors might be responsible for the yield ha‑1 plateau in California, and hence to investigate potential solutions.
The % of flower abortions truss‑1 on tomato paste plants grown in SDI fields in California was found to be 2-3 times higher than on tomato paste cultivars grown under center pivot irrigation in Brazil and Central Washington.
Low oxygen concentration in root zones of SDI crops is considered a major factor.
A second major factor is an increase in soil-borne fungal diseases caused by a reduction in the tomato rotation period.
Vine-decline/foot-crown-rot disease (FCR) is an increasing threat to tomato yield.
We consistently isolated Fusarium falciforme, Setophoma terrestris and Plectosphaerella cucumerina from diseased plants.
The disease begins in young roots and progressively develops during the growing season, eventually rotting the crown of the plant and killing it.
Higher populations of short-season cultivars of tomatoes will minimize loss of yield from FCR. Grafted plants with long-life root stocks could also be beneficial.
Other threats to the sustainability of the tomato crop come from the development of new races of the vascular pathogens, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and Verticillium dahliae, and government restrictions on irrigation water, agricultural chemicals, and fertilizer use.
Authors
A.G. Watson, S. Aleckovic
Keywords
California, tomatoes, sustainability, flower abortion, sub-surface drip, yield-plateau, oxygen, vine-decline, foot-crown-rot disease, Fusarium falciforme, Setophoma terrestris, Plectosphaerella cucumerina, government regulations
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