The contribution of plant physiology in glasshouse tomato soilless culture

There has been appreciable contribution by physiological research to the development and application of soilless culture in glasshouse crop production. The remarkable steady annual increase of glasshouse tomato yield in the UK in last 30 years has undoubtedly been achieved by the application of a sound scientifically based soilless culture production system. Uptodate, the aim of soilless culture application is more on yield rather than on quality. To meet the future challenge for a sustainable glasshouse tomato production, the advantage of the soilless culture system for glasshouse crop production has to be explored further. The common problems in both fruit quality defect and fruit yield fluctuation in the summer can be overcome, when fruit temperature rather than ambient temperature can be monitored and adjusted based on the fruit physiological responses relevant to both fruit yield and quality. When adjustment of the electrical conductivity of the feed (Ec) is accompanied by adjustment on light, CO2 enrichment and fruit water relations fruit qualities such as fruit dry matter content and health factors i.e. antioxidant levels in the fruit can be enhanced further. By applying fruit production manipulation (i.e. sideshoot taking and fruit truss pruning) and supplementary lighting to have a good match between fruit production and photoassimilate production, a year-long production of tomato with high yield and quality is achievable.