Tomato Seedling Growth, Earliness, Yield, and Quality following Pretransplant Nutritional Conditioning and Low Temperatures
Year: 1991
Type: article
Abstract: `Sunny' tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedlings were pretransplant nutritionally conditioned (PNC) in 1988 and 1989 with factorial combinations of N from 100 to 300 mg·liter -1 and P from 10 to 70 mg·liter -1 . In 1988, all conditioned seedlings were exposed to 12 hours of 2C for eight consecutive nights before transplanting. In 1989, half of the conditioned plants were exposed to a low-temperature treatment of 8 days with 12-hour nights at 2C and 12-hour days in a warm greenhouse (19C/26C, night/day). In both years, as N PNC increased to 200 mg·liter -1 , seedling growth increased. Increasing P PNC from 10 to 40 mg·liter -1 increased seedling growth, but only in 1988. In both years, P PNC did not affect yields. Low-temperature exposure in 1989 decreased seedling growth in comparison to those held in a warm greenhouse (19C/26C, day/night). In 1988, first harvest yields were not affected by N PNC; however, in 1989, as N increased to 200 mg·liter -1 , early yields increased. In 1988, total yields increased wit h N PNC from 100 to 200 mg·liter -1 and in 1989 with N at 50 to 100 mg·liter -1 with no further increases from 100 to 200 mg·liter -1 . Low-temperature exposure had no effect on earliness, yield, or quality. A PNC regime combining at least 200 mg N/liter and up to 10 mg P/liter should be used to nutritionally condition `Sunny' tomato seedlings to enhance yield.
Authors: Regina R. Melton, Robert J. Dufault
Institution: Clemson University
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,500
Funder: U.S. Department of Agriculture
OpenAlex ID: W2184789324