Articles
THE EFFECT OF CULTIVAR AND A BASAL SIDE-SHOOT ON THE YIELD OF TOMATO IN FLOWING WATER CULTURE
Although the cultivars grew similarly in the vegetative phase, those leaves of cv.
C developing after the start of fruiting were much smaller than those of cv.
V. This could be explained if the fruits of cv.
C had a higher sink strength than those of cv.V. There was an indication of more root death in cv.
C although final root sizes were similar.
Fruit production of cv.
C after the first two trusses was inferior to that of cv.
V. This was presumably due to the smaller leaf area of cv.
C and its greater root death.
The provision of a basal side-shoot, intended to improve the carbohydrate status of the roots, had no effect on the yield of cv.
C and reduced that of cv.
V. It seems that it is a mistake to consider the status of the roots in isolation from that of the vegetative shoot since it is the quantitative balance between them which is important.