Changes in Tomato Varieties Over Time

The localities with large tomato growing areas in the Spring-Summer crop are Bac Ninh (140 ha), Hung Yen (80 ha), Hai Duong (120 ha), Hai Phong (125 ha), Hanoi (90 ha), Vinh Phuc (85 ha) ..., which are localities with the advantage of supplying fresh fruit products to the city market at high prices (Statistics in the provinces in 2010 and 2011). People who grow tomatoes in this season are also highly skilled in intensive farming and willing to invest heavily in production.

Table 3.1: Planting season and tomato variety structure in the Red River Delta region in the period 2008-2012

Season

Seasonal

plant

Type and characteristics

Similarities

Classic

image

Local has

large area

Summer-Fall Crop

15/7-10/8

Semi-limited, high temperature resistant, easy to set fruit, resistant to TYLCV, wilt

tree

Mongan , HT160, HT42, HT25,

Savior (from

2010)

Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Hai Phong, Nam Dinh,

Bac Ninh

Fall Winter Crop

20/8-20/9

Early winter crop

9/21-9/30

Limited, semi-limited, unlimited, easy to bear fruit, easy to care for

BM199, VL2000,

Gandeva, VL3500, HT160,

HT42

Hanoi, Hung Yen, Nam Dinh, Vinh Phuc

Winter main

5/10-22/10

Early Spring Crop

15/1-20/2

Semi-permanent, heat-resistant, resistant to mildew, yellow leaf curl

Grandeva, DV2962,

Savior (since 2010)

Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Ha

Internal

Spring Summer Crop

1/3-15/3

Summer Crop

3/25-4/5

Maybe you are interested!

Evaluation of the distribution of tomato varieties according to soil type in localities in the Red River Delta, the results are recorded in Table 3.2.

The data in Table 3.2 shows that the Red River Delta is very diverse in terms of tomato growing terrain. Among the tomato growing area, highland soil accounts for 40% with planting seasons from early, main to late. Growing tomatoes on this soil can extend the harvest time by using semi-limited varieties such as Savior, Grandeva, VL3500... as well as having good fertilization techniques to extend the harvest time thanks to shoot regeneration. Next is the two-rice crop land with the highest proportion (55%), which is mainly grown in the winter crop after harvesting the summer rice.

Thu. Varieties grown on this type of land mainly have a shorter growing period and are harvested in concentrated areas, such as BM199, DV178, Perfect 89 and Savior. A small part of the riverside alluvial land area (5%) in Vinh Phuc, Hanoi... is used to grow early-season tomatoes. These areas often choose short-term varieties that can withstand high temperatures and harvest in concentrated areas to avoid storms. After harvesting, they will switch to growing other leafy vegetables. Varieties selected for this type of land include VL2004, VL2000, Perfect 89...

Table 3.2. Distribution of tomato varieties according to soil type in the Red River Delta

Proportion				Land
Type soil	area product	Seasonal	Type alike	Typical breed	method acreage
	(%)				big
High land	40	Summer Crop	Sell property	Savior, Mongan,	Bac Ninh,
		Autumn, Season	Limited, Unlimited	HT160,	Vinh Phuc,
		Autumn Winter,		Grandeva,	Hanoi,
		Spring crop		VL3500, TM11	Hai Phong,
		Summer			Nam Dinh
Two-crop land	55	Fall	Limited,	Grandeva,	Sea
paddy		Winter	Sell property	BM199, DV178	Duong, Ha
			limit		Domestic, South
					Definition
Alluvial land	5	Summer-Fall Crop	Limited, limited sale	VL2004,VL2000, Perfect89	Vinh Phuc, Hanoi

3.1.3. Changes in tomato varieties over time

In order to understand the fluctuations of tomato varieties in the Red River Delta as well as the acceptance of new varieties by the people, we investigated the fluctuations in the quantity and types of varieties over time in some localities such as Hung Yen, Hanoi, Hai Phong through gardeners, seed dealers and tomato growers. The investigation was conducted by asking questions about people's experiences with tomato varieties grown over different time periods. The results are recorded in Table 3.3 and Appendix 2.2.

The data in Table 3.3 and Appendix 2.2 show that in the period 2000-2005, there were many new varieties in production from imported sources and varieties created from domestic research results. Among them, the varieties belonging to the finite group dominated with 15 varieties. The varieties belonging to the finite group have the characteristics of early ripening, late ripening, and

Medium and suitable for winter crop. In the period of 2006-2008, there was a clear change in the structure of varieties, varieties with poor fruit quality were eliminated by production, replaced by high-yielding hybrid varieties with higher productivity, quality and resistance to pests and diseases. The group of varieties with semi-finite growth form gradually dominated with 15 varieties. The varieties of finite and indefinite types decreased significantly, the typical indefinite type is small-fruited tomato varieties (cherry tomatoes), fluctuating from 5-7 varieties.

Table 3.3. Variation in the number of varieties in the Red River Delta over time periods

Time period

Breed group

2000-2005	2006-2008	2009-2011
Finite group	15	7	3
Limited Sale Group	11	15	19
Infinite group	6	5	5
Total	32	27	27

From 2009 to now, the variety set in production has been significantly selected, high-yielding F1 hybrid varieties with high yield, good fruit quality such as hard fruit, beautiful red ripening, especially varieties with heat resistance, the ability to grow off-season... are dominant. In production, there are only a few varieties with limited growth form in some extensive growing areas, with little care such as BM199, DV178... some unlimited varieties are put into production in some special areas.

3.1.4. Development of tomato pests in the period 2009-2011

Research on the composition of pests, diseases and the development trends of some major dangerous diseases on tomato plants has been carried out to advise people on choosing suitable varieties for each season. Determining the level of damage by group discussion and ranking (Ranking Matrix) on a scale of 1 - 9 (1 - mild damage, 9 - severe damage). The results of the assessment of the composition of pests and diseases are shown in Table 3.4 and Table 3.5, allowing for the following comments:

There are 16 types of pests that damage tomato plants in different seasons and their occurrence is not the same. Leaf miners and whiteflies are the two pests that most strongly affect tomato yield. Leaf miners appear in all seasons of the year and cause great damage. If not removed promptly, they will damage the leaves and create optimal conditions for fungal diseases to develop, affecting yield. Whiteflies are vectors of the virus that causes tomato yellow leaf curl disease, which is one of the

Pests that damage productivity, in severe cases can lead to crop failure. Whiteflies are also difficult to control, so the impact on productivity is quite high (score 9).

Table 3.4. Pest composition and damage level to tomato production in the Red River Delta

Pest Type	Level of harm	TT	Pest Type	Level of harm
1	Leaf miner (Lyriomyza sp)	9	8	Ladybug (Duodecastigma)	3
2	Green fruit borer (Helicopter wing Hubner )	3	9	Thrips (Thrip palmi)	7
3	Smooth armyworm ( Spodoptera exigua Hubner)	3	11	Green leafhopper (Amrasca devastans Distant )	3
3	Cutworm (Agrotis sp.)	3	12	Aphis gosypii Glovers )	5
4	Whitefly ( Bemisia tabaci)	9	13	Red spider (Tetranychus sp)	5
5	Leaf-eating inchworm (Anomis flava, Chrysodeixis eriosoma)	5	14	White spider (Polyphagotarsonemus latus)	5
6	Stink bugs (Hemiptera)	3	15	Cantharis vesicatoria Geof )	3
7	Grasshopper (Oxya chinensis) Thunberg Oxya velox Fabr )	3	16	Flea beetle (Phyllotetra striatum)	5
8	Grasshopper (Oxya chinensis) Thunberg )	3

Evaluation of diseases and their severity on tomato plants (Table 3.5) shows that there are many types of diseases that damage tomato plants and the severity of the diseases is significantly higher than that of pests. Of these, three types of diseases, yellow leaf curl, late blight and bacterial wilt, have the highest severity (score 9) and have a clear impact on tomato yield. In fact, the level of investment in pesticides to prevent diseases is much higher than that to prevent pests.

Table 3.5. Disease components and damage levels to tomato production in the Red River Delta

Type of disease	Level of damage harm	TT	Type of disease	Level of damage harm
1	Root rot ( many types of fungi )	7	8	Yellow leaf curl (Virus)	9
2	Late blight (Phytopthora) infectious)	9	9	Bacterial Wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum)	9
3	Gray mold (Botrytis cinerea, Full moon	7	11	Fruit tip rot (deficiency) Calcium)	5
4	Brown spots (Cercospora personata, Stemphylium solani )	7	12	Nematodes (Meloidogyne ssp)	5
5	Black spot	7	13	Physiology of yellow tips	5
6	Alternaria solani )	7	14	Fulvia fulva	5
7	Wilted white mold (Sclerotinia sp.)	7	15	Powdery mildew (Leveillula) taurica)	3
8	Yellow wither (Fusarium oxysporum)	5	16	Mosaic (TMV, CMV)	5

3.1.5. Tomato production efficiency at research sites in the Red River Delta through different seasons

At the research sites, tomato plants have a much higher economic value than other crops such as rice, corn, etc., with a net profit ranging from 35.4 million VND (Winter crop in Hoai Duc) to 92.7 million VND/ha (Summer-Autumn crop in Tien Lang). In the investment cost category, a large part of the cost is calculated for labor. Thus, if the labor cost is included by the people themselves, the profit value from tomato plants is quite high.

In the production seasons, Summer-Autumn tomatoes bring the highest profit because at this time tomatoes are often more expensive. Winter tomatoes are easy to grow due to favorable conditions, often giving high yields, less pest and disease pressure... however, the selling price in this tomato season is often low, some years the price is very low at only 500 VND/kg, so the profit is often much lower than that of off-season tomatoes. In the Spring-Summer season, tomatoes are subject to higher disease pressure because the weather in the early stages of the season is very harsh, high humidity, low temperature are optimal conditions for fungi to develop, so production costs such as pesticides are often higher, more care is needed.

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Table 3.6. Tomato production efficiency in different seasons

at 03 locations: Hoai Duc - Hanoi, Yen My - Hung Yen and Tien Lang - Hai Phong (calculated on 1 hectare)

Category	Hoai Duc – Hanoi (1000 VND/ha)			Yen My - Hung Yen (1000 VND/ha)			Tien Lang – Hai Phong (1000 VND/ha)
Category	Summer Fall	Winter	Spring Summer	Summer Fall	Winter	Spring Summer	Summer Fall	Winter	Spring Summer
I	Expense	162851	140827	168014	154056	135370	156796	142447	129359	146401
1	Seedling	4850.3	4155	4157.2	4850	3878	4157	5706	4155	4677
2	Labor	105121.5	95675.8	109692	95565	91327	99720	95565	86978	99720
3	Plant protection drugs	14265.5	10249	17451	15512	9695	16205	15512	10249	16343
4	Fertilizer, lime	30054.5	22437	28919	29570	22160	28919	17105	19667	17867
5	Materials for scaffolding	8559.3	8310	7795	8559	8310	7795	8559	8310	7794
II	Productivity (kg)	35456	50359	43628	41965	54015	41965	43550	52076	39610
III	Total revenue	233584	176255	218138	226614	172848	201434	235140	166643	198055
IV	Profit	70733	35428	50124	72558	37478	44638	92693	37284	51654

Average data for 2 years 2010-2011

3.1.6. Seed supply system, harvesting methods and tomato consumption model in the Red River Delta.

Seed supply is one of the important steps, the focal point of transferring scientific advances in seeds. Research on the tomato seed supply system in some localities in the Red River Delta obtained the results in Table 3.8.

The results in Table 3.7 show that most people buy seedlings from reputable nurseries for planting, the rate fluctuates from 70.0 - 78.5% of interviewed households, they trust the honesty of the gardeners and the gardeners are also the ones who transfer techniques as well as information about the best varieties to the people. Gardeners often buy seeds directly from the production company or seed agents in the area.

Table 3.7. Tomato seed supply system in the Red River Delta

Type of seed supply

Rate (%)
Hanoi	Hung Yen	Hai Phong
Buy seeds from the producer	4.5	5.2	3.5
Buy seeds from a dealer	10.6	22.3	17.2
Buy seeds at the market	6.4	2.5	2.5
Buy seedlings from nurseries	78.5	70.0	76.8
Self-breeding	0.0	0.0	0.0

In addition to buying seedlings for planting, in the Red River Delta, there are also a number of farmers who buy seeds and grow seedlings themselves. This often happens to farmers with small planting areas or who have experience in sowing seedlings but not for business purposes.

Harvesting methods are related to the demand for tomatoes in the consumer market. The results of the study on tomato harvesting methods of people in the Red River Delta in Table 3.8 show that most people in the Red River Delta harvest tomatoes when the fruit is fully ripe in the field. The method of harvesting ripe fruit for vinegar only occurs in the off-season with the aim of taking advantage of the time when the price is high and this method also occurs for farmers who are still conservative in growing tomatoes. People also believe that when harvesting ripe fruit for vinegar, the selling price is often not as high as when harvesting ripe fruit in the field.

Table 3.8. Tomato harvesting methods in the Red River Delta

Harvesting method

Rate (%)
Hanoi	Hung Yen	Hai Phong
Green fruit harvest	0.0	0.0	0.0
Pickling ripe fruit	8.5	7.3	9.5
Harvest ripe fruit	82.5	92.7	91.5

Tomato consumption market is one of the factors affecting the ability to expand production as well as transfer new scientific and technological advances. Researching the tomato consumption network in localities, we obtained the results in Figure 3.2.

The analysis results show that up to 85% of the products harvested by the people are sold to traders (buyers), while only 15% of the output is sold by the people themselves at local markets. This shows that tomato growers tend to be more professional in production in the product consumption stage. The tomato output sold by the people themselves at the markets is mainly from households with small growing areas or sold at the beginning or end of the harvest season.

90%

10%

Wholesale market (65%)

Processing plant (10%)

Consumer

Farmer

Buyer (80%)

Retailers (25%)

Figure 3.2. Tomato consumption model in some tomato growing areas in the Red River Delta

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