Volume 2 Number 1 2008
The Fruiting Species of the Solanaceae

How to reference: Bebeli PJ, Mazzucato A (2008) The Solanaceae – A Review of Recent Research on Genetic Resources and Advances in the Breeding of Tomato, Pepper and Eggplant. In: Passam H (Ed) The Fruiting Species of the Solanaceae. The European Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology 2 (Special Issue 1), 3-30

Guest Editor

Harold Passam

Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

www.aua.gr

CONTENTS AND ABSTRACTS

Harold Passam (Greece) The Fruiting Species of the Solanaceae (pp 1-2)

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INTRODUCTION

Penelope J. Bebeli (Greece), Andrea Mazzucato (Italy) The Solanaceae-A Review of Recent Research on Genetic Resources and Advances in the Breeding of Tomato, Pepper and Eggplant (pp 3-30)

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ABSTRACT

Invited Review: Plant breeding has played an important role in the improvement of the Solanaceae through the development of new cultivars with significantly increased yield and quality. Tomato, pepper and eggplant cultivars have been improved for adaptability to the greenhouse environment to enable year-round cultivation. Naturally occurring diversity and that artificially induced by intraspecific and interspecific crosses are a requisite for crop improvement. The plant genetic resources that have been used intensively in tomato breeding are wild species, while existing landraces still remain an untapped resource. Although conventional hybridization is still the main method of cultivar development in tomato, there are fast advances towards molecular techniques. Tomato is not only a highly commercial species, but also a model one against which the efficiency of novel techniques can be compared. Besides tomato, pepper and eggplant have also benefited from the application of new molecular breeding methods. Advances in pepper breeding have occurred at a greater rate than in eggplant, which still remains largely unexplored. Both pepper and eggplant have rich genepools in wild relatives and cultivated landraces, which need to be conserved, explored with new technological tools, and utilized for their improvement. In the present paper, we review the status of tomato, pepper and eggplant germplasm resources, breeding methodology, and the achievements of plant breeding in these three species during the current decade.

Nikolaos Katsoulas, Constantinos Kittas (Greece) Impact of Greenhouse Microclimate on Plant Growth and Development with Special Reference to the Solanaceae (pp 31-44)

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ABSTRACT

Invited Review: Solanaceous crops (tomato, pepper and eggplant) constitute about 60% of greenhouse-cultivated areas. Their importance is also obvious when considering the large volume of scientific papers published every year on subjects addressing aspects of the Solanaceae. Among Solanaceae, the most researched crop is tomato, but considerable attention has also been paid to pepper during the last few years, while eggplant has been less studied. However, the great volume of research carried out on tomato does not mean that there is nothing more left to be investigated since most of the work done until now was carried out in greenhouses in Northern countries, while much less has been done in Mediterranean, arid or tropical climates. Protected cultivation makes it possible to obtain increased crop productivity by maintaining a favourable environment for the plants. Therefore, production in greenhouses has become more popular than in the past, while nowadays the greenhouse environment is efficiently controlled. When referring to modern greenhouses, we have to emphasize the significant role of the computer (due to its high speed, precise calculation and high level of automation, standardization and intellectualization) in modern environment management and control. In order to achieve computer control and management of all the principal greenhouse cultivation procedures, such as climate control, irrigation, fertilization, even fruit harvest, the first important thing is to learn the effects of greenhouse microclimate (including temperature, solar radiation, soil moisture, CO₂) on crop response. From this point of view, the present paper addresses the information available for use in crop model development and for greenhouse climate control. The growth of Solanaceous plants in a greenhouse is a complex process, governed by the interactions between the plant’s genetic properties and the environmental conditions, as modified by climate control. It is therefore difficult to predict intuitively, the management measures necessary to create crop growing conditions that will lead to optimal resource use. In the present paper a survey of the effects of greenhouse microclimate on crop response in general, and on tomato, pepper and eggplant in particular, was carried out and the findings are presented and discussed.

Dimitrios Savvas, Georgia Ntatsi, Harold C. Passam (Greece) Plant Nutrition and Physiological Disorders in Greenhouse Grown Tomato, Pepper and Eggplant (pp 45-61)

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ABSTRACT

Invited Review: Optimization of the nutritional status of plants is fundamental to high production in a greenhouse environment, and especially so in the case of fast-growing, high-yielding Solanaceous vegetables such as tomato, pepper and eggplant. Nutritional disorders (deficiencies and toxicities) may arise in either soil or soilless media due to imbalanced fertilization and/or shortcomings in the root environment and can result in serious losses of yield and quality. The present paper reviews research findings related to the nutrition of greenhouse Solanaceous vegetable crops when cultivated in the soil or in hydroponic systems. In addition, some of the more frequently observed physiological disorders, particularly those affecting fruit quality and to a significant extent resulting from nutritional and/or environmental deficiencies are reviewed.

Fotios A. Bletsos, Christos M. Olympios (Greece) Rootstocks and Grafting of Tomatoes, Peppers and Eggplants for Soil-borne Disease Resistance, Improved Yield and Quality (pp 62-73)

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ABSTRACT

Invited Review: Grafting of the Solanaceae is an environmentally friendly operation which reduces the incidence of crop infection by soil-borne diseases and reduces the population of soil-borne pathogens in a similar way to the application of crop rotation. Selection and use of highly compatible rootstocks, with resistance to soil-borne diseases and nematodes, allows the cultivation of high quality cultivars which otherwise would be sensitive to infested soils. Production of these cultivars is demanded by the consumers, so grafting enables favorable competition both for conventional and organic farming. Moreover, grafting protects the grower from exposure to harmful chemicals used for soil sterilization, and the consumer is protected from their residues.

Konstantinos A. Akoumianakis, Dimitrios J. Bilalis (Greece) Production of Certified Tomatoes, Peppers and Eggplants with Reference to Existing Legislation (pp 74-87)

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ABSTRACT

Invited Review: There are two basic forms of certified produce of the Solanaceae (tomato, pepper and eggplant): (1) certified produce from sustainable management, and (2) produce grown by organic cultivation methods. In the first part of this review, the certification agencies, the rules and certification procedures are presented. In the second part, recent research relating to the maintenance of soil fertility for the production of certified produce is presented. Composts derived from various organic and waste materials are described and evaluated with particular reference to organically grown tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Finally, the quality and safety of organic produce is briefly discussed.

Ioannis C. Karapanos, Shreef Mahmood, Charalampos Thanopoulos (Greece) Fruit Set in Solanaceous Vegetable Crops as Affected by Floral and Environmental Factors (pp 88-105)

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ABSTRACT

Invited Review: The fruit set, yield and quality of the Solanaceous vegetable crops, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) and eggplants (Solanum melongena L.), especially when cultivated out of season, are profoundly influenced by the climatic conditions prevailing during the stages of reproductive development. Although the effects of unfavourable environmental conditions on the flower fertility, pollination and fertilization of these species have formed the basis for numerous studies, there has been no overall review of the literature relating to this issue for over twenty years. However, in view of the increasing concern about the effects of environmental stress on crop production, a significant amount of experimental work relating to the physiology of fruit set has been published since then, including information on the effects of stress on the reproductive physiology of tomato and pepper, and to a lesser extent eggplant. This work is reviewed here with particular reference to male and female gametophyte development, pollination and fertilization.

Dimitrios I. Tsitsigiannis, Polymnia P. Antoniou, Sotirios E. Tjamos, Epaminondas J. Paplomatas (Greece) Major Diseases of Tomato, Pepper and Eggplant in Greenhouses (pp 106-124)

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ABSTRACT

Invited Review: Greenhouse climatic conditions provide an ideal environment for the development of many foliar, stem and soil-borne plant diseases. In the present article, the most important diseases of greenhouse tomato, pepper, and eggplant crops caused by biotic factors are reviewed. Pathogens that cause serious yield reduction leading to severe economic losses have been included. For each disease that develops either in the root or aerial environment, the causal organisms (fungi, bacteria, phytoplasmas, viruses), main symptoms, and disease development are described, as well as control strategies to prevent their widespread outbreak. Since emerging techniques for the environmentally friendly management of plant diseases are at present imperative, an integrated pest management approach that combines cultural, physical, chemical and biological control strategies is suggested. This review is based on combined information derived from available literature and the personal knowledge and expertise of the authors and provides an updated account of the diseases of three very important Solanaceaous crops under greenhouse conditions.

Dionysios Perdikis, Eleftheria Kapaxidi, Georgios Papadoulis (Greece) Biological Control of Insect and Mite Pests in Greenhouse Solanaceous Crops (pp 125-144)

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ABSTRACT

Invited Review: Solanaceous greenhouse crops are susceptible to infestation by a high number of insect and mite pests that can cause serious yield losses. The most important of these pests are whiteflies, aphids, leafminers, thrips and spider mites. Biological control is an environmentally friendly method which enhances sustainability in agriculture. Biological control is based on the use of natural enemies - antagonists of the pests that may be predators, parasitoids or pathogens. Extensive research has been conducted to exploit the potential of natural enemies in biological control. Selected natural enemies have been mass reared and commercialized. The application of biological control in greenhouses has been proved effective and its use is steadily increasing, worldwide.

Georgios Aivalakis, Panagiotis Katinakis (Greece) Biochemistry and Molecular Physiology of Tomato and Pepper Fruit Ripening (pp 145-155)

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ABSTRACT

Invited Review: Fruit ripening is a complex, genetically programmed process that culminates in dramatic changes in fruit metabolites, colour, texture, and flavour of the fruit. In the present paper, we survey recent findings in the areas of fruit chlorophyll degradation, carotenoid biosynthesis, volatiles, cell wall metabolism and central metabolism shift during tomato and pepper ripening. Moreover, the latest research on the molecular aspects of ethylene response is presented.

Harold C. Passam, Ioannis C. Karapanos (Greece) Eggplants, Peppers and Tomatoes: Factors Affecting the Quality and Storage Life of Fresh and Fresh-cut (Minimally Processed) Produce (pp 156-170)

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ABSTRACT

Invited Review: Factors affecting the composition, quality and storage life of fresh tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) and eggplants (Solanum melongena L.) as well as fresh-cut (minimally processed) produce are discussed both in the light of European Union (EU) quality standards and on the basis of recent research findings. The fruit of all three Solanaceous species are highly perishable and careful manipulation of the storage conditions is required in order to preserve quality at an acceptable level. The stage of harvest and the storage techniques applied relate largely to the climacteric or non-climacteric nature of the fruit, and the role of ethylene in fruit ripening is discussed. Tomato, pepper and eggplant fruit are all rich sources of antioxidants, and these substances are implicated in the prevention of cardiovascular and other human diseases. Apart from epidemiological studies on the relationship between antioxidant intake and disease occurrence, several studies have concentrated on the changes in antioxidant levels during fruit growth and maturation, as well as on the fate of antioxidants during storage and processing. The fruit of all three species are susceptible to chilling injury and this susceptibility restricts the temperature at which storage can be carried out. However, a number of studies have indicated the beneficial effects of enclosing fruit in plastic film of specific gas permeability. Because of the increasing demand for fresh-cut (minimally processed) salads, research has been directed at studying the behaviour of fresh-cut produce (e.g. pepper rings, cut tomato salads) during storage and marketing. Because of the increased perishability of fresh-cut produce and the danger of microbial activity, stringent packaging and storage techniques must be applied. This review is concluded with a brief consideration of future research perspectives.