Lâminas de irrigação e hidrogel nas taxas de crescimento e produção de tomateiro / Irrigation depths and hydrogel on tomato growth and production rates / Láminas de riego e hidrogel en las tasas de crecimiento y producción de tomate

O tomateiro é uma das hortaliças de maior importância econômica a nível mundial. No entanto, sua produção pode ser limitada por diversos fatores, sendo o manejo da água o principal fator limitante. Dessa forma, o uso de tecnologias que melhorem a eficiência no uso da água é de extrema importância, destacando-se entre estas o uso de hidrogel. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se nesse trabalho avaliar as taxas de crescimento e produção do tomateiro sob lâminas de irrigação e volumes de hidrogel. O experimento foi conduzido em esquema fatorial 3x4, em blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições, sendo os fatores: três volumes de hidrogel previamente hidratado (0, 50 e 100 ml por planta); e 4 lâminas de irrigação (40, 60, 80 e 100% da evapotranspiração da cultura). Foram avaliadas as taxas de crescimento absoluto e relativo da altura de planta e diâmetro do caule, massa média dos frutos e a produtividade por planta. Os resultados evidenciaram que a redução das lâminas de irrigação levou a redução linear das taxas de crescimento absolutas e relativas de altura e diâmetro. Perante essas mesmas condições, também houve redução da massa média dos frutos e da produtividade por planta. O uso de hidrogel não afetou nenhuma das características avaliadas, dessa forma, recomenda-se a sua não utilização nas condições desse estudo. Indica-se a utilização da lâmina de reposição de 100% da ETc.(AU)

Tomato is one of the most economically relevant vegetables worldwide. However, its production can be limited by several factors, with water management being the main limiting factor. Thus, the use of technologies that improve efficiency in the use of water are extremely important, with emphasis on the use of hydrogel. In this sense, the objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and production rates of tomato under irrigation depths and hydrogel volumes. The experiment was carried out in a 3x4 factorial scheme, in randomized blocks with four replications, with the following factors: three volumes of previously hydrated hydrogel (0, 50 and 100 ml per plant); and 4 irrigation depths (40, 60, 80 and 100% evapotranspiration of the crop). The absolute and relative growth rates of plant height and stem diameter, average fruit mass, and productivity per plant were evaluated. The results showed that the reduction of irrigation depths led to a linear reduction in absolute and relative growth rates in both height and diameter. Under these same conditions, there was also a reduction in the average fruit mass and productivity per plant. The use of hydrogel did not affect any of the evaluated characteristics; therefore, it is recommended not to use it under the conditions of this study. It is recommended to use the 100% ETc replacement blade.(AU)

El tomate es una de las hortalizas de mayor importancia económica a nivel mundial. Sin embargo, su producción puede verse limitada por varios factores, siendo la gestión del agua el principal factor limitante. Por ello, el uso de tecnologías que mejoren la eficiencia en el uso del agua es de suma importancia, con énfasis en el uso de hidrogel. En ese sentido, el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las tasas de crecimiento y producción de tomate en láminas de riego y volúmenes de hidrogel. El experimento se realizó en un esquema factorial 3x4, en bloques al azar con cuatro repeticiones, siendo los factores: tres volúmenes de hidrogel previamente hidratado (0, 50 y 100 ml por planta); y 4 láminas de riego (40, 60, 80 y 100% evapotranspiración del cultivo). Se evaluaron las tasas de crecimiento absoluto y relativo de la altura de la planta y el diámetro del tallo, la masa promedio de frutos y la productividad por planta. Los resultados mostraron que la reducción de las láminas de riego condujo a una reducción lineal en las tasas de crecimiento absoluto y relativo en altura y diámetro. En estas mismas condiciones, también se redujo la masa media de frutos y de la productividad por planta. El uso de hidrogel no afectó ninguna de las características evaluadas, por lo que se recomienda no utilizarlo en las condiciones de ese estudio. Se recomienda utilizar la lámina de repuesto del 100% del ETc.(AU)

Quantitative Cellular Evaluation and Anatomical Organization of the External Region of Different Genetic Materials and Maturation Stages of Tomato Processing

Abstract The effect of the anatomical structure of tomato skin may be significant for quality determination at the harvest point, but the definitions of cells that constitute the skin of fleshy fruits, such as tomato, are still unclear, providing contradictory descriptions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidermal tissue of different genetic materials of tomato processing (IT761, U2006, TC2736, CVR2909 and F3060) and maturation stage, in order to compare and choose genetic materials with morphological characteristics of the epidermis region more appropriate for the bulk transport. Micrographs were used for cell measurements using the Image J software. Cuticle undergoes thickening during fruit growth, and reduction in full maturation. Genetic materials presenting fruits with thicker cuticle at the harvest stage (CVR2909, F3060 and IT761) were more advantageous due to their mechanical resistance. Cuticle deposition ends before full fruit maturation, resulting in a decrease in the amount of cutin per surface unit, consequently decreasing cuticle thickness in the ripe fruit. The characteristics observed in the tomato fruit mesocarp clearly showed the disruption of the cell wall during the fourth maturation stage related to loss of fruit firmness. Among the new genetic materials, F3060 has a greater potential to become cultivated for industrialization due to its morphological characteristics, such as elevated cuticle thickness and high values for width, height, perimeter and area of epidermal cells in full maturation stage, which make it suitable for bulk transport.

Parámetros poblacionales de Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) y pérdidas asociadas en tomate de invernadero / Population parameters of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and associated losses in greenhouse tomato

Introducción: El minador de hojas de tomate, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), la plaga más peligrosa para la producción de tomate, Solanum lycopersicum L., en todo el mundo; puede causar pérdidas totales y es difícil de controlar. Por lo tanto, comprender la dinámica de sus poblaciones en el cultivo es una prioridad para mitigar el daño. Objetivo: Aquí, los parámetros de la población de T. absoluta fueron evaluados en tomate var. Sonero en invernadero, en tres sistemas de gestión (comercial, población máxima y control total). Métodos: Durante 25 semanas en La Unión, Antioquia, Colombia, se aplicaron modelos matemáticos para describir las poblaciones de larvas y adultos (machos) en el tiempo, en relación con los parámetros de producción y las pérdidas asociadas. Resultados: La tasa de crecimiento intrínseco fue de 0.4466 larvas por semana. Los modelos gaussianos y exponenciales describieron mejor a la población en el tiempo. Las pérdidas se asociaron con el peso y la cantidad de frutos comercializables, y también con el peso total de producción y la cantidad de racimos y frutos totales. Conclusión: Las larvas de T. absoluta tienen un crecimiento exponencial en invernadero ventilado, con una tasa de crecimiento intrínseca menor que la calculada por las tablas de vida en el laboratorio.

Introduction: The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), the most threatening pest for tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L., production worldwide, may cause total losses, and is difficult to control. Thus, understanding its populations dynamic in the crop is a priority to mitigate damage. Objective: Herein, population parameters of T. absoluta were evaluated in tomato var. Sonero in the greenhouse, in three management systems (commercial, maximum population and total control). Methods: During 25 weeks in La Union, Antioquia, Colombia, mathematical models were applied to describe the populations of larvae and adults (males) in time, as related to production parameters and associated losses. Results: The intrinsic growth rate was 0.447 larvae per week. The Gaussian and exponential models described best the population over time. The losses were associated with weight and number of marketable fruits, and with total production weight, and number of clusters and total fruits. Conclusion: T. absoluta larvae have growth exponentially in a ventilated greenhouse, with a smaller intrinsic growth rate than that calculated by life tables in the laboratory.

Tricalcium phosphate solubilization and nitrogen fixation by newly isolated Aneurinibacillus aneurinilyticus CKMV1 from rhizosphere of Valeriana jatamansi and its growth promotional effect

Abstract Aneurinibacillus aneurinilyticus strain CKMV1 was isolated from rhizosphere of Valeriana jatamansi and possessed multiple plant growth promoting traits like production of phosphate solubilization (260 mg/L), nitrogen fixation (202.91 nmol ethylene mL-1 h-1), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (8.1 µg/mL), siderophores (61.60%), HCN (hydrogen cyanide) production and antifungal activity. We investigated the ability of isolate CKMV1 to solubilize insoluble P via mechanism of organic acid production. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) study showed that isolate CKMV1 produced mainly gluconic (1.34%) and oxalic acids. However, genetic evidences for nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization by organic acid production have been reported first time for A. aneurinilyticus strain CKMV1. A unique combination of glucose dehydrogenase (gdh) gene and pyrroloquinoline quinone synthase (pqq) gene, a cofactor of gdh involved in phosphate solubilization has been elucidated. Nitrogenase (nif H) gene for nitrogen fixation was reported from A. aneurinilyticus. It was notable that isolate CKMV1 exhibited highest antifungal against Sclerotium rolfsii (93.58%) followed by Fusarium oxysporum (64.3%), Dematophora necatrix (52.71%), Rhizoctonia solani (91.58%), Alternaria sp. (71.08%) and Phytophthora sp. (71.37%). Remarkable increase was observed in seed germination (27.07%), shoot length (42.33%), root length (52.6%), shoot dry weight (62.01%) and root dry weight (45.7%) along with NPK (0.74, 0.36, 1.82%) content of tomato under net house condition. Isolate CKMV1 possessed traits related to plant growth promotion, therefore, could be a potential candidate for the development of biofertiliser or biocontrol agent and this is the first study to include the Aneurinibacillus as PGPR.

Indole acetic acid and ACC deaminase from endophytic bacteria improves the growth of Solarium lycopersicum

Background: Endophytic bacteria are ubiquitous in all plant species contributing in host plant's nutrient uptake and helping the host to improve its growth. Moringa peregrina which is a medicinal plant, growing in arid region of Arabia, was assessed for the presence of endophytic bacterial strains. Results: PCR amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA of bacterial endophytes revealed the 5 endophytic bacteria, in which 2 strains were from Sphingomonas sp.; 2 strains from Bacillus sp. and 1 from Methylobacterium genus. Among the endophytic bacterial strains, a strain of Bacillus subtilis LK14 has shown significant prospects in phosphate solubilization (clearing zone of 56.71 mm after 5 d), ACC deaminase (448.3 ± 2.91 nM α-ketobutyrate mg-1 h-1) and acid phosphatase activity (8.4 ± 1.2 nM mg-1 min-1). The endophytic bacteria were also assessed for their potential to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Among isolated strains, the initial spectrophotometry analysis showed significantly higher IAA production by Bacillus subtilis LK14. The diurnal production of IAA was quantified using multiple reactions monitoring method in UPLC/MS-MS. The analysis showed that LK14 produced the highest (8.7 uM) IAA on 14th d of growth. Looking at LK14 potentials, it was applied to Solanum lycopersicum, where it significantly increased the shoot and root biomass and chlorophyll (a and b) contents as compared to control plants. Conclusion: The study concludes that using endophytic bacterial strains can be bio-prospective for plant growth promotion, which might be an ideal strategy for improving growth of crops in marginal lands.

Association between biometric characteristics of tomato seeds and seedling growth and development

Background The size and weight of tomato seeds depend on genetics and can be modified by environment and management. In some species, a strong relation has been described between physical aspects of the seeds and the quality of the corresponding seedlings, but this cannot be considered a general rule. The objective of this research was to identify any association between the biometric characteristics of tomato seeds and the growth and development of their seedlings. Results A total of 18 lots of hybrid tomato seeds were used (from indeterminate plants with round fruits), belonging to six varieties from two reproduction seasons. Each lot was evaluated for seed size and weight, and seed quality, in terms of the germination test (5 and 14 d after sowing). The number of normal roots emerged with a length above 2 mm was also evaluated at d 3, 4 and 5 after sowing. The length of the seedlings and their total and partial dry weight were measured 5 d after sowing. The results indicate that there was no association between seed size and weight and subsequent seedling emergence, and only weak correlations were found between the dry weight of the radicle and cotyledon and seed size. Conclusion There is little association between the physical characteristics of the seeds and the subsequent seedlings, making it impossible to propose the use of seed weight or size as a compliment to quality evaluation tests.

Utilização de compostos bioativos de plantas medicinais na pós-colheita de tomate / Use of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants in post-harvest tomato

Vários métodos são usados para controle de doenças em pós-colheita de frutos de tomate. Com a crescente restrição ao uso de fungicidas, por questões de segurança alimentar e impacto ambiental, tem-se estimulado o uso de métodos alternativos para controle de doenças pós-colheita. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o efeito de produtos alternativos na conservação e no controle de doenças pós-colheita de tomate cv. Delta e Débora, obtidos de sistemas de cultivo convencional (SC) e em transição ao orgânico (SO). Os frutos foram tratados por imersão (1 min) com acibenzolar-S-metil (ASM), extrato bruto de Azadirachta indica e extrato de biomassa cítrica, e por fumigação com os óleos essenciais (OE) de Syzygium aromaticum e de Citrus aurantium ssp. bergamia. Após 14 dias de armazenamento em temperatura ambiente avaliou-se a perda de massa, pH, sólidos solúveis (SS), a acidez total titulável (ATT) e a incidência de patógenos. Os resultados mostraram que os tratamentos não influenciaram nos parâmetros analisados nos frutos oriundos do SC, para ambas as cultivares. Para os frutos produzidos no SO, observou-se menor perda de massa e maiores valores de SS e ATT para a cv Débora, tratados com os OEs e ASM. Os frutos da cv Delta, apresentaram os maiores valores de pH quando tratados com OE de S. aromaticum. Nenhum dos tratamentos reduziu a incidência de doenças pós-colheita.

Agronomic efficiency of intercropping tomato and lettuce

Four experiments were carried out at the São Paulo State University, Brazil, with the aim of determining the agronomic viability of intercropping tomato and lettuce, under greenhouse conditions. The studied intercropping systems were established by transplanting lettuce at 0, 10, 20 and 30 days after transplanting (DAT) tomato and by transplanting tomato at 0, 10, 20 and 30 DAT lettuce. Intercropped tomato and lettuce were evaluated during two seasons and compared to their sole cropping. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with nine treatments. The productivity and the classification of the tomato fruits were not influenced by having lettuce intercropped with it, but lettuce production was lowered when tomato was intercropped with it. The longer the delay in lettuce transplanting, the greater the reduction in its productivity. There was an effect of cropping season on the extent of the agronomic advantage of intercropping over sole cropping. In the first cropping season, intercropping established by transplanting lettuce during the interval between 30 days before up to 20 DAT tomato yielded land use efficiency (LUE) indices of 1.63 to 2.22. In the second period, intercropping established with the transplanting of lettuce up to 30 days before tomato yielded LUE indices of 1.57 to 2.05.

Quatro experimentos foram conduzidos na Unesp, Brasil, com o objetivo de determinar a viabilidade agronômica de cultivos consorciados de alface e tomate em ambiente protegido. Consórcios estabelecidos por transplantes da alface aos 0, 10, 20 e 30 dias após o transplante (DAT) do tomate e de tomate aos 0, 10, 20 e 30 DAT da alface, foram avaliados em duas épocas e comparados às suas monoculturas. Cada experimento foi conduzido em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com nove tratamentos. Verificou-se que a produtividade do tomate e a classificação dos frutos não foram influenciadas pela alface, mas a produção da alface foi menor em consórcio. Quanto mais atrasado o transplante da alface menor foi a sua produtividade. Houve efeito de época de cultivo sobre a dimensão da vantagem agronômica do consórcio sobre a monocultura. Na primeira época de cultivo, os consórcios estabelecidos com o transplante da alface de 30 dias antes e até 20 dias após o transplante do tomate proporcionaram índices de eficiência do uso da área (EUA) de 1,63 a 2,22. Na segunda época, os consórcios estabelecidos com o transplante da alface antes do tomate, em até 30 dias, proporcionaram índices EUA de 1,57 a 2,05.

Plant growth inhibitory activity of N, N´-di-(4-R-phenyl)-alkanediamides / Actividad inhibitoria de crecimiento de plantas de N, N’-di-(4-R-phenyl)-alcanodiamidas

Diamides are a class of metabolites that occurring in some Meliaceae plants, in Aglaia spp for example, with an ample body of biological activities, being insecticidal and herbicidal two of the most important. In our program of search for botanical pesticides, a series of N,N´-di-(4-R-phenyl)-alkanediamides was evaluated for its herbicidal activity. Many of the analogues tested exhibited moderate to good herbicidal activity both pre-emergence and post-emergence and have been found to inhibit energetic metabolism of pre-emergence weeds. The structure-activity relationships were probed by substitution on the benzene ring. Among the variations investigated, it was found that maximal herbicidal activity was obtained by substitution of –F, -CN and -Br at the aromatic portion and by n=2 of the aliphatic long chain. This last number of carbons (n=2) substitution was the key for the inhibitory activity.

Diamidas son una clase de metabolitos que estan presentes en plantas perteneciente a la familia de la Meliaceas, en Aglaia por ejemplo, poseen un amplio cuerpo de actividades biologicas, siendo la insecticida y la herbicida dos de las mas importantes. En nuestro programa para la busqueda de pesticidas botanicos, una serie de N,N’-di-(4-R-phenyl)-alkanodiamidas se evaluo para su actividad herbicida. Muchos de los analogos exhibieron desde buenas a moderadas actividades, tanto como pre-emergentes como post-emergentes y ademas se encontro que inhiben el metabolismo pre-emergente energetico de malezas. La relacion estructura-actividad fue probada por sustitución sobre al anillo aromatico. Entre las variaciones investigadas, se encontro que la maxima actividad herbicida se obtuvo por sustitución de F, CN y Br en la porcion aromatica y por n=2 del largo de la cadena alifatica. Este ultimo numero de carbonos de sustitución (n=2) fue clave para la actividad inhibitoria.

Biological control of Rhizoctonia solani in tomatoes with Trichoderma harzianum mutants

Biocontrol of Rhizoctonia solani in tomatoes cultivated under greenhouse and field conditions was analyzed using the Trichoderma harzianum mutants Th650-NG7, Th11A80.1, Th12A40.1, Th12C40.1 and Th12A10.1 and ThF2-1, respectively. Their innocuousness on tomato cultivars 92.95 and Gondola (greenhouse assays), and on cultivar Fortaleza (field assays) was established. Alginate pellets (1.7 g pellets/L soil) containing c.a1 x 10(5) colony forming units (cfu)/g pellet were applied to a soil previously inoculated with R. solani at transplant (greenhouse) or to a naturally infected soil (field). Controls considered parental wild strains, a chemical fungicide and no additions. Th11A 80.1, Th12A10.1 and Th650-NG7 prevented the 100% mortality of tomato plants cv. 92.95 caused by R. solani, and the 40% mortality in tomato plants cv. Gondola (greenhouse assays). Mortality reduction was reflected in canker level lessening and in plant parameters increases (development, fresh and dry weights). A different degree of susceptibility of tomato plants was observed, being Gondola cv. more resistant than 92.95 cv. to infection in a soil previously inoculated with R. solani. Tomato plants of cv. Fortaleza did not show mortality in naturally infected soils (field assays), where the mutant ThF2-1 reduced significantly the canker level caused by R. solani.

Optimization of worm-bed leachate for culturing of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) inoculated with Glomus fasciculatum and Pseudomonas fluorescens

A response surface technique was used to analyze the effect of Glomus fasciculatum, Pseudomonas fluorescens and worm-bed leachate (WBL) on growth, yield and characteristics of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill). The treatments combined inoculation with or without P. fluorescensor G. fasciculatum and the application of WBL at 20% (v/v) each day or every three days. Plant height, number of leaves and yield of tomato fruits was not affected by the factors studied. However, plants with foliar application of WBL each day developed wider stems than those with an application every three days. The pH of the fruits was lower when WBL was applied every three days compared to a daily application. The soluble solids content of the fruits was higher when WBL was applied daily compared to those sprayed every three days. Plant development was not affected by addition of P. fluorescens, G. fasciculatum or WBL, but WBL changed fruit characteristics.

Interaction between growth regulators-producing bacteria and root-rot fungi on tomato growth

The current study was carried out to study the interaction effect between plant growth promoting rhizobacteria [PGPR] and soil-borne pathogenic fungi on growth performance of tomato. PGPRs Azotobacter chroococcum [R19] and Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum [R44] strains used in the current study were isolated and identified in previous research by the same authors. Results obtained showed that A. chroococcum and B. megaterium var. phosphaticum gave high suppression against tomato root pathogenic fungi, i.e Fusarium oxysporum f.sp lycopersici and Fusarium solani. In vitro tests, clear zones around PGPR colonies can be attributed to the production of antibiotics-like substances, siderophores and cyanogens by suppressive PGPR strains. A lower percentage of tomato plants inoculated with a mixture of A. chroococcum and B. megaterium var. phosphaticum were infected than those inoculated with individual PGPRs . Growth characteristics, macro-nutrient content, endogenous phytohormones and photosynthetic pigments of tomato were significantly increased in the dual inoculated treatments compared to plants inoculated with either A. chroococcum or B. megaterium var. phosphaticum singly

Radiacão solar em ambiente protegido cultivado com tomateiro nas estacões verão-outono do Rio Grande do Sul / Solar radiation measured in protected ambient with tomato culture in summer-autumn seasons in Rio Grande do Sul State

O crescimento e desenvolvimento de uma planta dependem da intensidade, qualidade e duracão da radiacão solar. Por esse fator ser de importância vital às plantas, o presente trabalho objetivou fazer uma avaliacão sobre sua variacão, bem como sobre a sua disponibilidade no interior do ambiente protegido durante o ciclo do tomateiro nas estacões verão-outono em Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. O experimento foi conduzido de janeiro a junho de 2003 no Campus da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (latitude 31º52'S; longitude 52º21'W e altitude de 13m), em estufa plástica disposta no sentido Leste-Oeste, com área de 180my. A cultivar utilizada foi "Flora-dade", semeada em 24/01/03, transplantada no dia 28/02/03, sendo a última colheita em 12/06/03. Avaliou-se a radiacão solar global externa (Rgext) e interna (Rgint), transmitância, radiacão fotossinteticamente ativa (RFA) e o albedo da cultura a partir de sensores eletrônicos conectados a um "datalloger". Durante o ciclo da cultura, o total de Rgext foi 1161,21MJ m-2, enquanto a Rgint foi 881,85MJ m-2. A Rgint e a RFA apresentaram valores médios diários de 8,5MJ m-2 dia-1 e 3,4MJ m-2 dia-1, respectivamente. A transmitância média da cobertura plástica à radiacão solar global foi de 76 por cento. O albedo médio diário da cultura foi 0,23, com albedo de 0,17 nos estádios iniciais, 0,26 no período de máximo crescimento e 0,23 no final do ciclo.

Yield and post-harvest quality of tomato hybrids heterozygous at the loci alcobaça, old gold-crimson or high pigment

The effects of the fruit ripening mutant gene alcobaça (alc) and color development mutants, old gold-crimson (ogc) and high pigment (hp), on yield and post-harvest quality of tomato fruits were investigated. Five tomato hybrids were obtained by crossing near isogenic lines with Flora-Dade background [Flora-Dade (alc+/alc+ ogc+/ogc+ hp+/hp+), TOM-559 (alc/alc ogc+/ogc+ hp+/hp+), TOM-591 (alc/alc ogc/ogc hp+/hp+), TOM-593 (alc/alc ogc+/ogc+ hp/hp), and TOM-589 (alc/alc ogc/ogc hp/hp)] with the pollen parent line Mospomorist (alc+/alc+ ogc+/ogc+ hp+/hp+). Hybrid fruit was harvested at the breaker stage and stored on shelves at 15oC and 60 relative humidity for 16 days, and then evaluated for firmness, development of red color, and carotenoid contents. The different genotypic combinations at the loci alc, ogc and hp had no effect on fruit yield. The alc+/alc hybrid genotype significantly increased fruit firmness and significantly delayed the development of red color in maturing fruit. Simultaneous usage of ogc+/ogc and hp+/hp promoted an increase in the red color and lycopene content of alc+/alc hybrids, but did not have any additional effect on fruit firmness

Micropropagación del tomatillo (physalis ixocarpá L) / Tomatillo micropopagation (physalis ixocarpa L)

El tomatillo es una Solanaceae originaria de México y de amplia distribución en el continente americano. Su crecimiento es rápido y sus frutos son comestibles y comerciables. Para inducir su propagación in vitro fueron cultivados cotiledones e hipocotilos, provenientes de plántulas germinadas asétipcamente, en medio nutritivo sólido de Murachige y Skoog complementado con (mg/1): inositol 100, ácido nicotínico 0,5, glicina 2,0, piridoxina 0,5, tiaminaHCI 0,1, y sacarosa 30000. Los inductores de morfogénesis añadidos: Zeatina (Z) sola: 0,0-2,0, y Bencil Adenina (BA) 0,0-2,0 + Acido Indol Acético (AIA): 0,0-0,5. Se incubó a temperatura e intensidad lumínica controladas. Después de ocho días, de ambos explantes emergieron pequeños callos blanco-verdosos, los cuales se diferenciaron como yemas. Los cotiledones con Z produjeron unas 54 yemas/explante y en el medio con BA * AIA hasta 36. Los hipocotilos regeneraron 66 yemas en el medio con Z y en BA + AIA hasta 44. En los subcultivos en medio libre de hormonas, la propagación continuó y allí mismo las plantas enraizaron. Posteriormente fueron transferidas a recipientes con tierra negra y arena (1:1) y llevadas al invernadero donde crecieron, florecieron y produjeron frutos entre 9 y 14 por planta) con semillas fértíles

Effect of mode application of some growth regulators on the physiology of tomato plants I effect of indole-acetic acid [IAA] on morphology, growth, metabolism and productivity

In the present study spraying the vegetative parts of tomato plants or root exposure to the different concentration of IAA [10, 20, 40, 80 ppm] gave evidence that IAA can be absorbed and translocated from the rooting media to the shoots and vice-versa. The length of the main stem of treated plants was maximum when 80 ppm IAA concentration was used accompanied by minimum lengths of the corresponding main roots. The changes in total carbohydrates was mainly in polysaccharide fractions, while those of the total nitrogen were mainly in proteins and nucleic acids mainly RNA, 10 ppm concentration was the most promotive but 80 ppm was the least promotive. IAA activated the intake of some mineral elements studied; the maximum increase was shown by 10 ppm which then decreases by the increase of IAA concentrations. IAA induced flower and fruit giving in number and weight and the greatest induction was noticed with 10 ppm concentration whether the plants were sprayed once or twice

Effect of mode of application of some growth regulators on the physiology of tomato plants III effect of nicotinamide on morphology, growth, metabolism and productivity

The present results showed evidence that nicotinamide is absorbed and translocated from the roots to the shoots and vice-versa. The length of the main stem and root as well as their lateral branches was increased by the increase of nicotinamide concentrations applied. This led to parallel increases in fresh and dry weights of the plant organs. The apical dominance of plants sprayed with 80 ppm nicotinamide was less than that of those sprayed with 10 ppm concentration. However, plants sprayed twice were more responsive than those sprayed once. Carbohydrates mainly polysaccharides, nitrogenous compounds mainly proteins, nucleic acids and uptake of some mineral elements-were increased by the increase of nicotinamide concentrations applied. Nicotinamide induces flowering and fruit growth in number and weight of fruits consequent to spraying mainly with 80 ppm concentrations

Effect of mode of application of some growth regulators on the physiology of tomato plants: IV-effect of nicotinamide on the endogenous hormonal contents

Application of 10, 40 and 80 ppm nicotinamide either to culture media or used as foliar spray of tomato plants caused stimulatory effects on growth, development, differentiation and fruiting of plants in the order 80 > 40 > 10 ppm, as already mentioned in paper 3 offered simultaneously by the same authors to the same journal. This was accompanied with regular increases in the contents and levels of auxins, gibberellins and cytokinins leading to hormonal balance. However, the IAA oxidase activity was progressively reduced by the increase in the concentration of nicotinamide used. These results safely coordinate with the previously mentioned results in the third paper of this series

Some morphologic and physiologic responses of tomato plants to hydrogen sulphide

Fifty and Hundred ppm of H2 were supplied to tomato plants growing under field conditions. The results indicated that all growth parameters studied decreased. The reduction became greater when concentration and/or number of treatments increased. H2S induced significant inhibitory effects on photosynthetic activities, accumulation of soluble sugars, biosynthesis of polysaccharides and most of the soluble nitrogen. H2S greatly reduced the activities of peroxidase nitrate reductase and glutamate dehydrogenase enzymes. H2S also showed effects on different amino acid levels