THE COST AND BENEFIT OF VARIETY TRIALS IN INTENSIVE HORTICULTURE IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Between 1981 – 1985 the Horticultural Experimental Station in Faro / Algarve conducted 42 variety trials on tomatoes for the fresh market, 14 variety trials on bellpeppers and 7 variety trials on eggfruit. The planning and execution of these trials is described and cultural data (number of plants, number of repetitions, cultivation period, harvesting period, number of harvest) demonstrated. It is discussed which benefits can be derived from variety trials in horticultural research stations, which plant and fruit caracteristics should to be observed and if it is possible to lower trial costs.