Abstract

GODOY HERNANDEZ, Heriberto et al. Greenhouse Tomato Yield, Dry Matter and Nutrient Accumulation, as Affected by Grafting and Nutrient Supply. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2009, vol.27, n.1, pp.01-09. ISSN 2395-8030.

The area of greenhouse tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) production has been growing very fast in recent years in Mexico. Most of it is grown in soil without the use of organic matter and with plants without grafting; this often results in diseases in the root system. An environment friendly technique is the use of root stock resistant to soil pathogens. It is expected that this technique using plants with a larger root system promotes exploration of a larger volume of soil, meaning greater efficiency in nutrient and water uptake. To test this hypothesis, this study evaluated the effect of grafting and three levels of nutrient supply on yield, dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake. The experiment was set up in a multi tunnel greenhouse under soil conditions, and lasted 248 days in greenhouse. Results showed that grafting did not increase yield of commercial quality fruit. Grafted plants extracted larger quantities of all nutrients except magnesium. Grafting also increased plant vigor in terms of total height (6%), leaf area (10%), specific leaf area (5%), and leaf (12%), stem (11%) and total dry matter (9%). Grafting reduced earliness and produced larger fruit (4%), but more deformed (10%) fruit was also produced as a result of excess vigor.

Keywords : Lycopersicon esculentum; vigor; fruit size; greenhouse.

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