Research Opportunities for Tomatoes

Tomatoes offer numerous research opportunities starting from before planting to crop termination. Our research program involves both greenhouse and field grown tomatoes and other solanaceous crops across several US commercial production districts. Tomatoes serve as an excellent model crop for demonstrating new technologies such as products for pest management, growth enhancement, and environmental stress mitigation. Ag Metrics Group works in tomato test systems including pathology, agronomy, nematology, and entomology.

Fresh market tomato experimentation is a primary focus of our central Florida station. The crop begins with soil fumigation using plastic mulch for most solanaceous crops such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and potatoes. Trials can be focused on crop protection, agronomy, crop quality, or post-harvest crop viability.

Processing tomato is the focus on our San Joaquin Valley station in California, where germplasm, insecticides and fungicides, new fertilizer technologies, and bio stimulants are studied in open field-testing conditions. Here, yield data including soluble solids, firmness, maturation characteristics, and morphological parameters of fruit are recorded.

Scientific investigations for greenhouse tomato and pepper production are also available in our greenhouses in both California and Florida.

Common Pathology Test Systems
California:
Early Blight caused by Alternaria, Powdery Mildew, and soil borne diseases such as Fusarium and Verticillium are all common experimental test systems at Ag Metrics research facilities.
Florida:
Bacterial Canker, Bacterial Leaf Spot and Speck, Botrytis, Early / Late Blight, Fusarium, Sclerotinia

Common Arthropod Species
California:
Aphids, Leaf Hopper, Lepidopteran Larvae, Thrips, Whitefly
Florida:
Lepidopteran Larvae, Two Spotted Spider Mite, Whitefly

Nematode Research
Root Knot Nematode is studied in both California and Florida. Additionally, Stubby Root and Sting nematodes are also studied in the Florida tomato research program.

Agronomy Studies
Bio-stimulant, fertilizer, PGR’s, Soil Amendments and other inputs are studied for their effects to tomatoes and other solanaceous crops.

Testing can be completed in a field or greenhouse environment. Fertilizer formulations, use patterns, rates, applied at bed formation, post-plant through chemigation, or otherwise can be tested. Bio-stimulants can be tested for yield enhancement or stress mitigation.