Effects of the modification of light intensity by color shade nets on yield and quality of tomato fruits

The photoselective netting concept was studied in a tomato ‘Vedeta’ cultivation in the south part of Serbia (Aleksinac) under high solar radiation, using four different colored shade-nets (pearl, red, blue and black) with different relative shading (40% and 50% PAR). Exposure to full sunlight was used as a control. Red and pearl nets with 40% shade significantly increased the total yield. Shading reduced the appearance of tomato cracking and eliminated sunscalds on tomato fruits and accordingly, increased the marketable tomato production by about 35% compared to non-shading conditions. Changing the light intensity by color shade nets affected the biosynthesis of lycopene and β-carotene in tomatoes. Thus, significantly higher lycopene content was observed in greenhouse tomato integrated with red shade netting technologies (64.9 μg g−1) than in field-grown tomatoes (48.1 μg g−1). By contrast, shaded fruits have lower content of β-carotene. The photo-selective, light-dispersive shade nets appear as interesting tools that can be further implemented within protected cultivation practices.

► Changing the light intensity and radiation spectrum (red and pearl nets with 40% shade) has a large impact on the total production and tomato fruit quality.
► Shading reduced the appearance of tomato physiological disorders increased the marketable tomato production by about 35% compared to non-shading conditions.
► Higher lycopene content was observed in greenhouse tomato integrated with red shade netting technologies than in field-grown tomatoes.
► By contrast, shaded fruits have lower content of β-carotene.
► Photoselective shade netting improved yield and tomato fruit quality.