The northern region of Minas Gerais is marked by summers of high light intensity, which prevents the cultivation of some vegetables in this season. To evaluate the agronomic performance and the quality of the tomato cultivation under different shading levels, we conducted in 11/2009 at 02/2010 an experiment in the company Qualihort Seeds Ltd located in the municipality of Nova Porterinha, Minas Gerais. The experiment was arranged in randomized blocks in a 2 x 4 factorial design (two hybrids - Dominator and Giovanna - and four shading levels: 0%, 18%, 30% and 50%) with four replications. The hybrid Dominador was superior to the Giovanna in plant height, fruit number and fruit number per plant. The environments with 50 and 30% shading promoted higher plants. Marketable yield was highest at 50% shading. The different levels of shading did not significantly alter the traits pH, Total Soluble Solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA) and soluble solids / acidity (RSA). It was observed a higher average pH in fruits of Dominador, and higher mean SST in fruits of Giovanna. Shading of 50% promoted the greater interception of radiation and promoted a higher production, productivity and leaf area index, as well as higher ambient temperature, whereas the relative humidity was higher in the treatment with 30% shading.
Licopersicon esculentum Mill; solar radiation; protected environment; cultivars
