ISHS Acta Horticulturae 559: V International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Current Trends for Suistainable Technologies
AVOIDING THE BENDING (‘KINKING’) OF INFLORESCENCE PEDUNCLE ON CHERRY TOMATO |
| Authors: | J.J. Berenguer, I. Escobar, F. Sánchez, J. Cuartero |
| Keywords: | Yield, fruit quality, growth conditions, cherry tomato, kinking |
| Abstract:
Bending or ‘kinking’ of peduncles of tomato inflorescences when fruits are growing significantly reduces fruit yield. To avoid this effect of kinking four treatments were applied to the inflorescence peduncles of cherry tomato cv. ‘Josefina’: bending completely (almost 180º) between main stem and the first flower when that first flower was open (BFl) and when first fruit was set (BFr); scratching the lower-basal part when first flower of the inflorescence was open (SFl) and when first fruit was set (SFr); trusses supported by string tied around the peduncle of the truss and secured to the main stem, to prevent kinking (control). The objective of the treatments was to develop a callous tissue at the damaged point that later suberizes making the peduncle sturdy. Treatments were applied to trusses 3rd to 7th in 10 plants/treatment. Treated trusses developed callous tissue that made peduncles significantly thicker than control. Bending produced trusses with much thicker peduncles than scratching. Treated trusses showed no kinking and had similar fruit yield than control trusses, so that, the applied treatments effectively avoided the yield lost that kinking produces. Effect of treatments were negligible for number of fruits/truss. The average weight of all fruits of the truss was higher in SFr than in the rest of the treatments and differences were maintained from the 1st to the 10th fruit of the truss. Fruit soluble solids were not affected by bending or scratching, however, treatments made at flowering stage produced fruits with higher soluble solids than treatments applied on fruiting stage. Treated trusses in a plant did not change consistently number of fruits/truss, truss yield, fruit weight, and soluble solids when compared with untreated trusses 2nd and 8th of the same plant. Manipulation to bend completely the peduncle at flowering stage resulted in 10% of peduncles accidentally cracked, which makes BFl treatment not recommendable for commercial tomato cultivation. Scratching the peduncles between first flower open and first fruit set stage avoided kinking while maintained yield and fruit quality. | |
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