LOCATION OF FIELD EVALUATION TRIALS The series of field trials to determine yield performance of vegetable varieties were conducted in experimental plots at the Univeraiy of the Virgin Islands Agricultural Experiment Station in St. Croix. The station is located at latitude 17*43'N, and longitude 6442'W with elevation of 33.5 m (100 f). The climate is semlard with average annual rainfall of 1016 mm (40 inches). Rainfall averages more than 100 mm.monttr from August to November, which is considered wet season. December to July is the dry season. The average temperature is 26"C. The soil at AES is characterized as Fredensborg loamy, fine, carbonitic, loohyperthermic, shallow, typic Calclustolls (Lugo-Lopez and RIvera, 1980). Topsol (0-20 cm) is dark grayish-brown with subangular blocky structure, is moderately alkaline (pH 7.90) and has relatively low organic matter content (<2.0%). Because of the high pH, the soil is generally high in calcium and low in sulfur and micronutrients such as iron, manganese and zinc. PROCEDURES AND RESULTS TOMATO VARIETY TRIAL Four tomato field trials were conducted between 1988 and 1992. In 1988. a spring trial was established using eight varieties developed and recommended in the mainland U.S. and Hawaii. This was followed by a summer trial using 12 heat-tolerant tomato lines from the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC) In Taiwan. During the spring of 1991 and 1992, trials were conducted using five varieties developed in the mainland U.S. and Hawaii. Spring, 1988 The eight varieties evaluated In this trial were Calypso, Capitan, Duke, Pole King, Luxor, UH-N52, UH-N69 and Tropic. Tomato seeds were sown on 2.54 cm Jiffy pellets on March 1, 1988. Transplants were field-planted on March 30 at a spacing of 91 cm between rows and 61 cm between plants. Each variety was planted in three-row plots measuring 6.1 m x 2.7 m. The trial was established in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The plants were fertilized with complete fertilizer (20% N, 20% P,0,, 20% K,0) at the total rate of 234 kg ha-'. The total fertilizer rate was split-applied, one half a week after transplanting and the remaining half at flowering stage. Weeds were controlled by hand-weeding. Insect pests and diseases were controlled by using the recommended Insecticides and application rates for tomatoes. Pesticides used during the course of the experiment were Guthlon, Lannate, Diazinon and Kocide. All plots were drip-Irrigated to maintain soil moisture at field capacity. Table 1. Total marketable yield of tomato varieties grown in spring, 1988, at UVI-AES. Marketable Variety yield' Frui size (t ha") (g) Capitan 28.7 a 142 UH-N69 12.6 b 170 UH-N52 12.1 b 142 Luxor 11.6 b 227 Pole King 5.8 c 199 Calypso 4.90 c 199 Tropic 3.9 c 199 Duke 2.7 c 142 'Means within a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different by Duncan's Multiple Range Test, (P=0.05).