Effect of carbon dioxide application on tomato growth dynamics and yield within a low solar radiation environment in Akita (cold region), Japan

Tomato cultivation in the Akita prefecture, one of the coldest regions in Japan, has a short harvesting period of May to November; which is mainly a summer-autumn type cropping.
We aimed to develop a cultivation technique for year-round production, with an extended harvesting period from March to December.
Therefore, it was necessary to increase the rate of photosynthesis for high dynamic growth and yield in a low solar radiation environment during winter.
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) application at low solar radiation was considered an effective technique.
Hence, we examined the effect of CO₂ application on tomato growth dynamics and yield in low solar radiation environments.
As a result, CO₂ application with high (50% shade) and low (70% shade) solar radiation resulted in similar growth dynamics (such as the leaf numbers, area, and area index) and yields during the short growth spans (first to third truss, three months). However, with the application of CO₂ during the long growth spans (4^th to 13^th truss, 6 months), low (70% shade) solar radiation had smaller growth dynamics and yield than those of high (50% shade) solar radiation.
To determine the difference in these results between the short and long growth spans, we measured the amount of sap (the sum of xylem and phloem flow) using a sap flow sensor.
Under long-term cultivation and low sunlight with CO₂, the quantity of sap at the base of the stem was low, indicating that this environment caused low growth dynamics and yield by inhibited shoot growth.
However, low light-interception characteristics lead to heavy fruit-setting.
It was considered necessary to improve the low growth dynamics and yield by managing cultivation systems such as enlargement of the leaf area for increased light interception added to the CO₂ effect to maintain good growth dynamics and yield under low sunlight conditions.

IV Asian Horticultural Congress – AHC2023

Y. Suzuki, T. Umebayashi, K. Ohara, H. Kanda, H. Imanishi, N. Kitamoto, K. Hashiura, Y. Kusakari, Y. Yoshida

dry matter production, photosynthesis, translocation, vegetable

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2024.1404.172