ISHS Acta Horticulturae 821: International Symposium on Tomato in the Tropics
EVALUATING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF 'UNAPAL-MARAVILLA' CHONTO TOMATO UNDER DIFFERENT PRUNING SYSTEMS AND AT DIFFERENT PLANT POPULATIONS |
| Authors: | E.I. Estrada S., L.O. Lopez, M. Barrientos |
| Keywords: | Solanum lycopersicum, yield, fruit quality, Palmira |
| Abstract:
Because of the high investments required to produce tomato, crop management systems are required that maximize the expression of the crop genetic potential with minimal agronomic and economic risks. A series of trials were, therefore, carried out at the National University of Colombia, Palmira Campus using a randomized complete block experimental design with four replicates and seven treatments that resulted from the incomplete combination of the levels of two factors: pruning system and plant population (1.7, 2.7, and 4.1 plants/m2). The treatments consisted of plants spaced at 0.20 m with one or two stems, plants spaced at 0.30 m with one or two stems, and plants spaced at 0.50 m with two, three, or four stems. Response variables evaluated included yield and several yield components: height of fruit set, days to harvest of clusters 1, 8, 10, and 12, number of fruits per cluster, average weight of fruit, quality of fruit (super supreme, average, and inferior), and absolute and relative yield for each harvest and per plant. Statistically significant differences were found between treatments regarding height of fruit set at the onset of harvest on clusters 1, 8, and 12, the number of fruits on clusters 1, 8, and 12, and the estimated yield/m2. In all treatments, super supreme quality tomato contributed less to production, followed by tomato of average and inferior quality. The treatments involving fewer stems performed best. | |
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