Spectral absoiptance of greenhouse tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Milí.) canopy (sunny day, LAI = 2.54) varied between 87-89 %. Absoiptance of smáli tomato fruits was 77 % of PAR energy (spectral reflectance was 22 % and transmittance 1 %). The difíusion resistance to COj of the parenchyma extemal layer with epidermis in smáli fruits reached 25 s cm‘i and in large green fruits 75 s cm-i. At the atmospheric CO2 concentration (330 cm^ m*^) and the quantum flux density of PAR 800 pmol m'2 s'* the steady statě CO2 evolution rate was found to be slightly below its compensation value [-0.06 mg(C02) kg-i(d.m.) s-i]. The net photosynthetic rate in smail tomato fruits was 0.3 mg(C02) kg-i(d.m.) s'*, whereas in a large green tomato it reached 0.16 mg(C02) kg-i(d.m.) s’T Intemal CO2 concentration in smáli tomato frnits by the light was 2 300 cm3(C02) m-3 and in the dark 2 900 cm3(C02) m*3. Even under the optimal irradiance CO2 difíusion proceeded always from fruits to the environment.