Optimizing Husk tomato production in Mexican greenhouses

Physalis ixocarpa Brot. (tomatillo or Husk tomato) is one of the five major vegetables cultivated in Mexico, but its yield in the field is low. However, greenhouse crops and the enhancement in plant density can promote an increase in yield per area. The aim of a recent research was to evaluate: yield, water consumption and water use efficiency of variety husk tomato ‘Diamante’. High planting density caused smaller stems diameter and higher yield per m-2 and in water use efficiency. Plant length and yield per plant and per unit of area were higher in the greenhouse, as well as the longest plant length and largest stem diameter were in the spring-summer crop cycle The experiment was conducted under field and greenhouse conditions, during the two crop cycles (autumn-winter and spring-summer), with different planting densities (1.5, 2 and 3 plants m-2), in complete random blocks and three replications. The yield was influenced by the planting density and environments. In both ...