CWSI AND BASELINE STUDIES TO INCREASE QUALITY OF PROCESSING TOMATOES

Three CSWI values intended for use as thresholds for the irrigation of processing tomatoes were compared with a non-irrigated control. Irrigation led to significant increases in marketable yield. While 35 t ha<^-1 of product were obtained for control, the trials irrigated upon CWSI threshold reaching 0.6, 0.35 and 0.1 gave 51, 57 and 60 t ha^-2 respectively. Moreover, the small decrease in optical residue gave a higher paste yield. Organoleptic characteristics were not at all altered by irrigation as an improvement of the sugar ratio was in fact obtained. Since no significant differences were observed for CWSI thresholds of 0.1 and 0.35, it may be concluded that the crop is capable of withstanding moderate CWSI values up to 0.35 without any decrease in product yield and quality.