The aim of the research was to investigate the impact of different cultivation environments of tomato cultivars, the electro-chemicaland the qualitative traits of the tomato fruits. The quality of tomato fruit harvesting was evaluated at the Laboratory of Institute of Horticultureand Viticulture University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna. Two hybrids of tomatoes were tested Belle-F1 and AmaF1,in two locations and two different treatments (open field and plastic tunnels). Model of experimental fields was based on random method andincluded three replications. Following parameters were analyzed and tested: pH, Rh, P-Value, Nitrates and the content of vitamin C. The valuesof pH for treatment in the open field and indoor production system were not significant (4.47 to 5.05). For P-Value derived from the twotreatments the maximal values were without significant differences, while minimal values were significant. Study has shown also that the highestvalues of nitrate content (16.34 mg, open field) compared to average value differences were + 0.384 mg or 43.83% higher. In indoor productionthe nitrate content was lower in compared with plants cultivated in open fields, so these differences were +3.81 mg or 26.4 0%, and highlysignificant for both levels. In relation to vitamin C content, the highest value was identified in the indoor systemof 298.6mg, with variations fromthe overall average of 16.43% or + 42.15 mg. The coefficient of variation values for both levels was of 29.96 respectively 27.31%

K., Jezik

N., Mirecki

S., Aliu

S., Kaciu

V., Shala-Mayrhofer

University of Debrecen Electronic Archive

Introduction
Based on economic importance, nutritional value,
methods of use in human nutrition and surfaces cultivated,
tomatoes is part of a group of the most important vegetables
in Kosovo. Currently Kosovo is net importer of tomato and
the current orientations were focused mainly to increase
yields. Influence of ecological factors in the tomato cultivar,
location, and interaction between them is relatively high.
This has a direct impact in plant and is part of the study about
the quality of tomato. Factors influencing phytonutrient
content of vegetables could be different: genotype,
cultivation practices, environmental conditions, maturation,
and post harvest handling. Tomato quality factors such are:
size, firmness, color, taste and nutritional content are
important criteria in tomato marketing and also quality of
tomatoes varies in different maturity stages (Helyes, 2006
and 2008).
The consumption of fresh tomatoes and tomato products
has been inversely related to the development of some types
of cancer (Giovannucci, 1999) and to plasma lipid
peroxidation (Parfitt et al., 1994). The levels of the essential
antioxidant vitamins, in contrast to other ant oxidative
defenses, are determined mainly by their dietary supply
(Audrius et al., 2009). Also, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is a
natural antioxidant mainly present in fruits and vegetables.
However, from different authors the high levels of acid
ascorbic acid human in human body could cause adverse
effects. P-value has using as one of the useful quality
parameters and degrading of the quality of products some
researches. Several authors; Hoffmann (1991), Keppel
(1996), Walz (1996), Krautgartner (2002), Meltsch et al.
(2004), Meltsch & Kappert (2004) indicated that p-value
would be useful for degradation of horticultural crops
quality. Nitrate is a naturally occurring compound that is a
part of the nitrogen cycle, as well as an approved food
additive. It plays an important role in the nutrition and
function of plants. Vegetables are the major vehicles for the
entry of nitrate human system. Ever-increasing concern over
nitrate toxicity has directed a number of countries to lay
down maximum allowable threshold concentration with
regards to nitrate-N in vegetables (Corre, Breimer, 1979;
Staugaitis, 1997).
The goal of this research is to test two tomato cultivars for
different qualitative parameters growing at different
locations and treatments (open field and greenhouse) in agro
ecological conditions of Kosovo.
Materials and Methods
The research took place during the vegetative period in
2008. Experiments were placed based on a block system with
three repetitions. Research analyzed two tomato cultivars
(hybrids); Belle F1 and Amati F1. Tomato cultivars were
planted in two locations and two different treatments
Influence of environment in electro-chemical quality
of tomato
Kaçiu, S.1, Shala-Mayrhofer, V.2, Mirecki, N.3, Aliu, S.1, & Jezik, K.2
1University of Prishtina, Kosovo. Faculty of Agriculture &Veterinary
2Institute Of Horticulture And Viticulture. Department Of Applied Plant Sciences And Plant Biotechnology.
University Of Natural Resources And Applied Life Sciences,
3University of Podgorica, Biotechnical Faculty, Montenegro E-mail address: skaciu@yahoo.com
Summary: The aim of the research was to investigate the impact of different cultivation environments of tomato cultivars, the electro-chemical
and the qualitative traits of the tomato fruits. The quality of tomato fruit harvesting was evaluated at the Laboratory of Institute of Horticulture
and Viticulture University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna. Two hybrids of tomatoes were tested Belle-F1 and AmaF1,
in two locations and two different treatments (open field and plastic tunnels). Model of experimental fields was based on random method and
included three replications. Following parameters were analyzed and tested: pH, Rh, P-Value, Nitrates and the content of vitamin C. The values
of pH for treatment in the open field and indoor production system were not significant (4.47 to 5.05). For P-Value derived from the two
treatments the maximal values were without significant differences, while minimal values were significant. Study has shown also that the highest
values of nitrate content (16.34 mg, open field) compared to average value differences were + 0.384 mg or 43.83% higher. In indoor production
the nitrate content was lower in compared with plants cultivated in open fields, so these differences were +3.81 mg or 26.4 0%, and highly
significant for both levels. In relation to vitamin C content, the highest value was identified in the indoor system of 298.6 mg, with variations from
the overall average of 16.43% or + 42.15 mg. The coefficient of variation values for both levels was of 29.96 respectively 27.31%.
Key words: cultivar, environment, pH, P-Value, RH, R, nitrate, Vitamin C.
International Journal of Horticultural Science 2010, 16 (5): 17–20.
Agroinform Publishing House, Budapest, Printed in Hungary
ISSN 1585-0404
18
(environments) (open field and greenhouse). Samples were
taken from the regular parcels used for commercial
production of tomatoes in Kosovo (at the location Celine,
where altitude is around 370 m. The type of soil is brown
soil, annual average temperature is 17.6 °C, and annual
average precipitation 427 mm while at Dardhishte location,
where altitude is around 550 m The soil type is Pseudoglej,
annual average temperature is 16.5 °C, annual average
precipitation 581,7 mm,. The formula which was used in the
experiment was: 2 hybrids x 2 locations x 2 treatments x 3
repetitions = 24 experimental plots x 6 parameters = 144
combinations.
Applied agro-technical measures were standard for the
two hybrids using same treatments. The analyses of quality
of produced tomatoes were carried out in a laboratory of
Institute of Horticulture andViticulture University of Natural
Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna. Samplings
were taken using a random method. From 10 plants in each
repetition four tomato fruits were taken from the two middle
rows (Amati F1 and Belle F1). Analyses were performed by
reflectoquant using the principle of reflectometry (remission
photometry method) to quantify the ascorbic acid
concentrations and the nitrate concentration. The
determination of the electro-chemical parameters were
carried out by the means of the following instruments for
measure: Multi 340i and pH/Cond 340i (WTW company).
The electrodes used for these measurements were: Sentix
ORP – for the redox potential, Tetra Con 325 – for the
conductivity and Sentix 81 – for the P value.
Results and discussion
pH – Highest values of pH in the open environment were
achieved at cultivar Belle F1, valued 5.05 (Location Celine),
while lowest values were achieved at cultivar Amati F1
(Celine) valued 4.56. Results presented in Table 1 show that
the differences were not high (+0.49) or 10 – 20%. For
varieties that were in the same locations but in indoor
production (greenhouse) the highest value of pH were
achieved by cultivar Amati F1 in Celina location (4.68),
while for cultivar Belle F1 in location Dardhishte the pH
value was 4.47. Differences between hybrids were + 0.21 or
in relative values 4.59%. Differences for both treatments
were + 0.28. The average variance values for at all treatments
in open field and indoor production were 0.025, and 0.00635
respectively. Significant differences were found for
locations, varieties for open field and indoor production,
treatments at level of probability was p=0.01. The correlation
between treatments (open field and indoor) had low value
(r = 0.017), that when considering the conditions of the
experiment is normal as it happened in two different
environments and different agro-techniques were used. The
value of the correlation coefficient for treatment in the open
field was higher (3.39%) compared to value realized in the
indoor (1.83%). Also minimal differences for both
treatments are manifested for standard deviation (SD) values
in open field are (0.158) and indoor values are (0.08). In
Figure 1. the treatment results are presented and their
groupings depend on their values for different class intervals.
Redoxsystems (redox-value rH), – gives information
whether the system runs off predominantly within the
oxidative or reductive range. As rH-value is negative, Briggs
logarithm of redox potential is the smaller and the more
strongly reductively the system runs off the more electrons
are made available (Kappert, R 2006).
The average value for this parameter in the open field was
17.07, while for the indoor production system it was 16.95.
Differences for the two extremes were +0.12 which was non
significantly different at the level of probability p=0.01. The
hybrid Amati F1 at location of Celina in open field has
manifested higher values (18.8), while lower values were
registered in the location of Dardhishte by cultivar Belle F1
(15.1). Differences for both levels were +3.7 or 21.75%.
Variance for treatments in open field was 1:18, while the
value of variation coefficient was 6.39%, with standard
deviation (SD) 1.087. Indoors, high value was found at
cultivar Amati F1 valued 18.5 in Celine location, but
opposite performance was found at cultivar Belle F1 valued
16.0, in the location of Dardhishte. Differences for the two
extreme values were +2.5 or 14.74%. The variance value for
treatments was (0.726), low in comparison with varieties that
were cultivated in open field – 0.454. The coefficient of
variation was 5.03% followed by standard deviation (0.85).
From the results presented in Table 1, no significant
differences were found (d<LSD) same as in open fields in
Kaçiu, S., Shala-Mayrhofer, V., Mirecki, N., Aliu, S. & Jezik, K.
Figure 1: Results for pH in open field (A) and indoor (B)
19
both series. In Figure 2, figurative differences were shown
clearly for two cultivars for treatment. The variations were
not statistically significant, even though some values for
treatment B were close to A.
Resistance: (R) It designates the handicap of the river of
charge carriers inside a leader by collisions with atoms –
electrical conductivity is the reciprocal value of the
resistance and is to be understood as measured free ions in
solution (Kappert, R. 2006).
R, for both research treatments was not significant
because differences shown for average values for open field
and indoor were minimal (+ 6.17) for the two levels of
probability 0.05 and 0.01. Highest values for this parameter in
open field indoor production system were achieved by Amati
F1 in Celina location, valued 263, and 244, respectively.
Lowest values in both treatments (open field and indoor) were
achieved by Amati F1 cultivar in location of Dardhishte (175
and 168). Correlation coefficient for this parameter according
to “Pearson” for both treatments was negative (- 0.71).
Coefficient of variation was 14.20% in open field and 11.08%
in indoor system, with variances from 529.88 to 819.18.
P-value is an integrating value. The p-value has the
dimension of an achievement and according to the order of
measured values usually is indicated in micro Watts (µW).
(Wolf, G., 1997, cited by Kappert, R 2006).
P-Value – For treatment in open fields average value
achieved was 264.3, while for indoor it was 270.5, so these
differences were not statistically significant for both levels at
0.05 and 0.01.
The maximal values for both treatments were 388 and
355, while the minimal values were 135 and 194,
respectively. The results show that for maximal values
difference was not insignificant, while for the minimal values
these differences were significant. Standard error (SE) was
19.9 for open field and 14.7 for indoor environment. The
standard deviation was 68.8 and 51.0 respectively. Ayçen
Akay and Zeki Kara (2006) have emphasized different
results from 3th clusters of 327.67 measured to 215.63 and
was obtained by cultivar Selin Gokce from15th clusters. The
p-values were calculated for varieties of Tomatoes between
Selin 5th clusters at 309.59 and 501.96 at Gokce 15th
clusters.
Nitrate is an important component of vegetables due to
its potential to accumulate and this is effected by a number of
biotic and abiotic factors. From our study it is clear that the
highest concentration of nitrates were in open field (16.34
mg). Compared with the average value of nitrate in plants
cultivated indoor difference is highly significant + 3.84 mg or
43.83%. Highest value of nitrate achieved in plants cultivated
in the indoor system was 44 mg. The cultivar with high
nitrates absorption capacity was Belle F1 in the location of
Celina, while for open field treatment it was cultivar Amati
F1 in location of Dardhishte (47 mg) . In all treatments the
concentration of nitrates was different. While, in the location
of Celina at indoor production cultivar Belle F1 had highest
nitrates concentration, in locality of Dardhishte the same
cultivar had shown lower concentration. The value of
coefficient of variation for both levels was relatively high.
Vitamin C- is very well known for its important role in
biochemical processes, such as collagen formation, iron
absorption and its inclusion in neurotransmission and
immune responses (Simone (1992). Ascorbic acid levels in
open field did not differ so much between different cultivars
(Helyes, L., 2008). High content of vitamin C is present in
varieties cultivated indoor 266 mg representing an average
value while this value for open field cultivation was 190.6 mg.
Difference for both treatments was significantly high + 75.7mg.
The high content vitamin C in indoor system was present in
Influence of environment in electro-chemical quality of tomato
Figure 2. Probability plot of average values for RH in open field (OF) and
indoor (ID).
Table 1. Comparison of values for two different varieties of tomatoes, in two locations and two production environments
(indoor & outdoor) for various parameters
Cultivar Location
PH RH R P-value Nitrates Vit C
OF ID OF ID OF ID OF ID OF ID OF ID
Belle-F1 Celin 4.94 4.61 15.5 16.3 210 217 135 208 4.9 27.0 272 321
Belle- F1 Celin 5.05 4.68 17.5 16.4 197 220 250 203 20.0 44.0 303 347
Belle- F1 Celin 4.57 4.63 16.4 16.3 206 230 230 194 6.0 35.0 244 301
Amati- F1 Celin 4.63 4.53 17.9 17.7 211 244 318 263 4.8 5.0 178 145
Amati- F1 Celin 4.56 4.51 17.7 18.5 249 213 266 355 8.0 4.9 182 217
Amati- F1 Celin 4.64 4.52 18.8 17.9 263 215 310 310 6.0 6 78 171
Belle-F1 Dardhishte 4.67 4.47 16.3 16.0 178 175 245 261 17.0 4.9 184 342
Belle-F1 Dardhishte 4.57 4.51 15.1 16.2 178 178 180 261 25.0 4.8 180 342
Belle-F1 Dardhishte 4.59 4.52 17.0 16.0 186 177 296 259 7.0 4.6 240 341
Amati- F1 Dardhishte 4.63 4.63 16.5 16.2 175 168 270 282 23.0 4.8 233 372
20
cultivar Amati F1 in the location of Dardhishta village, with
an average value of 372 mg, whereas in Celina this cultivar
had lower content, value of 145 mg. Differences were highly
significant (+ 227 mg), for the level 0.01. In open field for
cultivar Belle F1, highest value for vitamin C was found in
location of value of 303 mg. If compared differences of
extreme values for the two treatment differences was +69
mg. The lowest values realized in open field for cultivar
Amati (78 mg) in the location of Celina. Differences for both
derived values were highly significant (+225 mg). The value
of coefficient of variation for both levels was 29.96 and
27.31%, respectively. Meltsch et al. (2005), found out of
different orange juice ascorbic acid contents were between
280-330 mg L_1, rH value were 17.5–19 and p-values
between 400–540 uW. The researchers couldn't any
correlations between ascorbic acid, p-values and rH. In the
same study, researchers found in different apple juices the p-
values between 300-800 uW and also negative correlations
were found between ascorbic acid, p-values and ascorbic
acid and rH , (Ayçen Akay & Zeki Kara (2006).
Conclusions
The results from the study showed that differences of RH
for the two treatments were without significant variations,
while differences between tomato hybrids were significant.
For P-Value derived from the two treatments the maximal
values were without significant differences, while minimal
values were significant.
Also the highest values of nitrate content compared to
indoor system was identified in the open field, while content
of vitamin C, were identified in the indoor system for
different variations.
Acknowledgement
The study was supported by the project: “Research
Cooperation and Networking between Austria, Kosovo and
South Eastern Europe”.
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Kaçiu, S., Shala-Mayrhofer, V., Mirecki, N., Aliu, S. & Jezik, K.


Influence of environment in electro-chemical quality of tomato

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