WATER RESPONSE OF TOMATO IN PRESENCE OF “CORKY ROOT” (PYRENOCHAETA LYCOPERSICI SCHNEIDER ET GERLACH) IN SOUTHERN ITALY

The results of a two-year irrigation trial (1990–1991) carried out on tomato grown in field conditions in the Sele valley are reported.

The irrigation schemes tested were the following: 100% (ks=1,0), 80% (ks=0,8) and 60% (ks=0,6) mET reintegration; distribution of volumes bringing soil water levels to field capacity to a depth of 45 cm; early interruption of the irrigation season at 35–50% red fruits.

The irrigation regime influenced the "corky root" phenomenon: higher disease index values corresponded to higher water supply levels (62.2 at 100% mET reintegration).

With 80% mET reintegration the number of fruits affected by "blossom end rot" was low (5 fruits/m²) and the "corky root" severity index was reduced to 39.5, while yield and other data were not significantly different from the values obtained with the higher water supply level.

International Symposium on Irrigation of Horticultural Crops

A. D’Amato, E. Lahoz, I. Giordano, A. Pentangelo

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1993.335.29