Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXVIV, Issue 2
Written by Elena BARCANU TUDOR , Ion GHERASE, Ovidia Loredana AGAPIE, Eliza TEODORESCU
Organic farming is a key priority for the European Union, aiming for 25% of agricultural land under organic cultivation by 2030. In Romania, organic farming expanded by 67% between 2012 and 2022, increasing the need for cultivars suited to non-chemical systems. This study evaluates eleven tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), five pepper (Capsicum annuum), and five eggplant (Solanum melongena) cultivars, traditionally bred for conventional farming, assessing their yield, fruit quality, and adaptability under organic conditions in southern Romania. Results indicate that Darsirius tomato maintained stable yields (2.85 kg/plant organic vs. 3.05 kg/plant conventional), while Regal pepper exhibited stable productivity (140.16 g/fruit organic vs. 142.18 g/fruit conventional) and superior nutritional quality. Rebeca eggplant showed strong pest and disease resistance. Ema de Buzău recorded the highest dry matter content (10.82%), and Andrada had the highest lycopene concentration (12.7 mg/100g organic). These findings support selecting robust cultivars for organic farming, aiding sustainable agriculture and food security in Romania.
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