STORAGE OF TOMATO SEEDLING PLANT PLUGS UNDER FAINT IRRADIATION AND LOW TEMPERATURE

Tomato seedling plant plugs were used in the experiments. Seedling plant plugs were exposed to 12 storage combinations of faint irradiation and temperature for up to 20 days. Air temperature was controlled at 3, 6, 9 and 12°C by heat exchanger and PPFD from white fluorescent lump was 0, 1 and 10 μmol•m^-2•s^-1. Condition of the stored seedling plant plugs was evaluated by mortality, plant height and dry weight.

Mortality in temperature of 3 °C reached above 90% at 20 days. All the seedling plant plugs in PPFD of 1 and 10 μmol•m^-2•s^-1 survived with the exception of temperature of 3 °C. Plant height in PPFD of 1 and 10 μmol• m^-2• s^-1 was inclined to be high as temperature was high. Dry weight was inclined to increase as PPFD increased. Temperature of 3 °C was so low for tomato seedling plant plugs that they could not survive for more than 10 days. Furthermore, tomato seedling plant plugs stored in temperature of 6 ,9 and 12°C could survive only for 15 days without irradiation. On the other hand, faint irradiation made tomato seedling plant plugs survive for 20 days in temperature of 6, 9 and 12°C, indicating that faint irradiation is effective in storage of seedlings plant plugs.

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