Effects of container volume and seedling density on late transplanting and number of flowers in tomato

Abstract

By managing tomato at a high population density, blunting to the third cluster and transplanting 40 days after sowing (das), the transplant to end-of-harvest cycle lasts four months, achieving three cycles per year and a potential yield of 500 t?ha-1. This yield can be increased with one more annual production cycle through transplants at 60 das and the end of the growing cycle in 90 days, resulting in more flowers and fruits per inflorescence without affecting fruit weight. The aim was to evaluate the effect of container volume and population density on the quality of seedlings to be transplanted at 60 das, as well as the number of flowers and fruits per plant. The saladette-Type 'Bullseye' hybrid was grown in a greenhouse. Two container volumes (25 and 250 mL) and four densities (1,000, 750, 500 and 250 seedlings?m-2 for 25 mL, and 300, 200, 150 and 75 seedlings?m-2 for 250 mL) were evaluated. A split-plot randomized complete block design with four replicates was used. Morphological variables, number of flowers and yield were recorded. Analysis of variance and comparison of means (Tukey, P ? 0.05) were performed. Seedlings with morphological characteristics suitable for transplanting at 60 das were those grown in 250 mL cavities at densities of 75 and 150 seedlings?m-2. Cavity volume and seedling density did not influence the number of flowers or fruits per plant.