No abstract

For several decades, improved flavour has not been a main focus in tomato breeding because it is difficult and expensive to evaluate. Sensory panels are designed to assess flavour, but they are not able to evaluate large sample numbers typical for early breeding generations. Selection in the first segregating generation could enhance breeding for flavour by preventing the loss of favourable alleles. The efficiency of early selection is unknown due to the polygenetic inheritance of flavour. To address these issues, F2 plants from 32 crosses and their parents (910 individuals) were evaluated for aroma, sweetness and sourness with the Breeders' Sensory Test (small team and large number of small samples from individuals), as well as for physicochemical traits (total soluble solids, titratable acidity and dry matter), and volatile compounds in low‐input organic and hydroponic cultivation. Corresponding physicochemical and sensory traits were significantly correlated. For most of the studied traits, it was possible to select between single plants in the F2 generation. Thus, the Breeders' Sensory Test can be used as a new tool in breeding for flavour.

The yield and fruit quality parameters of tomatoes are influenced by environmental conditions, and cultivation systems play an important role in improving quality, apart from breeding. We examined five breeding lines and one cultivar in five cultivation systems for yield and fruit quality parameters. The cultivation systems include a single-glazed greenhouse with and without supplementary LED interlighting; a double-glazed greenhouse with and without supplementary LED interlighting; and an organic cultivation system on the field with a rainout shelter. Plants and fruits grown in the double glazing system showed significantly lower values for plant height, yield, DM, TSS, fructose, glucose, antioxidant capacity (DPPH, TEAC), TPC, calcium, phosphorus, and manganese content than in the single-glazed greenhouse, which can be explained by the lower light transmittance. However, it could be seen that the additional LED interlighting could lower the negative effect on yield and quality traits due to double glazing.