THE EFFECT OF SEEDLING QUALITY ON TOMATO YIELD, PLANT AND FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS

The effect of various qualities of tomato seedlings on yield, plant height, and tomato fruit characteristics was studied in a greenhouse and in an experimental field.
The tomato seedlings were produced in containers according to the "speedling" system and according to the conventional method using boxes.
Ten substrates were studied: two types of peat, compost, a mixture of peat and compost, and a mixture of compost, peat and enriched zeolites.

The best results concerning yield, plant height and fruit size were achieved with quality seedlings, i.e., with seedlings produced on a mixture of a substrate of 2/3 peat from Grahovo and 1/3 enriched zeolite.
Tomato seedlings produced on the same substrate had an average height of 27,5 cm, five leaves, an above-ground mass of 5,7 g, and 9,9% dry matter.
With the same seedlings we obtained average fruit yields of 47,6 t/ha, average plant height of 99,7 cm, average fruit mass of 130,6 g, and average dry matter of fruits 5,7%. The seedlings produced in containers had higher yields and more fruits with better characteristics than the seedlings produced according to the standard method.

I Balkan Symposium On Vegetables and Potatoes

V. Markovic, M. Djurovka, Z. Ilin

Lycopersicum esculentum, seedlings, substrate, yield, plants, fruits

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.462.21