Meteorological parameters measurements in protected cultivation as influence of tomato variability

The amount of solar radiation, when operating in protected environment, undergo to modifications that depend on the type of cover used. This can affect the characteristics of plant growth and trigger a variety of physiological responses. Currently, measurements of meteorological parameters in protected cultivation lack of measurement uncertainties evaluation that could be translated in uncertainty of the product variability. An experimental site for these measurements and the evaluation of the variability of a table tomato cultivar is presented. The site was equipped with cultivation structures (tunnel type) and calibrated sensors traceable to SI. The microclimate conditions were monitored by sensors for solar radiation, air temperature and relative humidity; inside and outside the tunnel with different covering materials having opposite filtering properties with respect to UV-B radiation. High temperatures recorded (over 40 °C) changed the transmissive feature of the films and consequently affected the growth, anthesis, leaf area index and fruit setting of tomatoes.