Tomato production systems and their application to the tropics.

The increased importance of tomatoes in the worldwide market has been a driving force to expand the acreage and export share for many countries, especially for those located close to the major importing countries. Originating in Central and South America, tomato is today more consumed in the USA and Europe than in the rest of the world. The world crop area of tomato has increased by 164% in 40 years and the world consumption of tomatoes has increased by 314%. In recent years, tomato consumption quantity increased at the average rate of 3% annually. Along with the increase in consumption, product quality has also been improved. Production of tomatoes during the hot-wet season in tropical and subtropical climates is limited by unfavorable conditions, such as high temperature, flooding, strong winds, and high incidence of diseases. During the last decades, protected cultivation of tomato crops has become the most efficient mean to obtain high quality fresh tomatoes for both domestic and export markets. In protected cultivation, the growth period can be extended for the whole year; however, the major limitation is due to the high temperature occurring inside the greenhouses caused by the heating effects of high irradiation. 'Tropical conditions' encompass a wide array of environmental conditions and regions, thus, enhancing production in the tropics requires taking into consideration the diversity of climates and production systems that affect tomato production.