Abstract

MEDINA MEDINA, Jorge Berni et al. Morphological leaf adaptations in tomato grown in warm retractable-roof bio-space. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2012, vol.3, n.1, pp.173-186. ISSN 2007-0934.

Microclimatic conditions and indeterminate tomato leaf morphology of two bio-spaces were analyzed: retractable-roof greenhouse and shade-house in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, during the period 2009 - 2010. The results show that, the retractable-roof greenhouse generates more favorable conditions forphotosynthesis, as a re sult of lower thermal fluctuation within this bio-space, compared with the environment imposed by the shade-house. Extreme temperatures (maximum and minimum) into the retractable-roof greenhouse remained in a range significantly smaller and therefore more favorable for the production and reproductive stability of tomato in the warm weather of Culiacán, comparedto shade-house s. This was corroborated by the magnitude of leaf morphological variables analyzed and the differences detected between leaflets developed in both cases. The values of leaf area index, leaf thickness, length of palisade parenchyma and presence of double palisade parenchyma observed in plants grown under retractable-roof made of glass were significantly higher than the values observed in the shade-house. The results suggested that higher tomato yields recently reported retractable-roof greenhouse in warm climates are due in large part to the higher photosynthetic efficiency, resulting from the amendments and foliar morphological adaptations imposed by the retractable-roof greenhouse' s microclimate. These results support the vision of innovative agricultural management to put the search space for the expression of life. The scientific concept of bio-space for crop production under protected agriculture systems is essential to propose adaptation measures to climate change.

Keywords : Solanum ly copersicum; shade-house; sustainable glasshouse; SAS.