Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Tomato Fruit Quality from Organic and Conventional Production
http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/58239
nitrate content between 'Robin' (27 mg kg
-1
) and 'Amati' (29 mg kg
-1
) in organic production
were not statistically significant (Fig.3).
50
A
A
45
40
B
35
A
A
30
25
B
20
15
10
5
0
Organic Conventional
Elpida Robin Amati
Figure 3.
Nitrate content (mg kg
-1
) in tomato fruit from organic and conventional production
The nitrate content in this study is presented as the average of all cultivars, and it was found
to be lower in organic production (29%-41%) compared to conventional production.
In conventional tomato production the nitrate content was lowest in 'Elpida' (34 mg kg
-1
). The
nitrate concentration was significantly (p<0.05) lower than in the other two cultivars. The
difference in the nitrate content between the 'Robin' (45 mg kg
-1
) and 'Amati' (41 mg kg
-1
)
cultivars was not statistically significant.
Rational application of organic manure instead of inorganic nutrients, use of physiologically
active substances, proper spray of nitrification inhibitors and molybdenum fertilizers, and
growing plants under controlled environmental conditions may all be factors that materially
reduce nitrate accumulation in tomatoes.
Selection among the available genotypes/cultivars and breeding of new cultivars that do not
accumulate nitrate even under heavy fertilization may also limit human consumption of nitrate
through vegetables [89].
11. Conclusion
For all nutrients examined, cultivar differences were greater than differences due to cultivation
method. The identification of cultivars with high nutritive value, represent a useful approach
to select tomato cultivars with better health-promoting properties.
In general, the significant differences between tomatoes grown in organic or conventional
production systems are:
1.
organic tomatoes contain more carotenoids
2.
organic tomatoes contain more minerals (P, K, Mg, Ca)
