GROWTH ANALYSIS STUDIES AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF GROWTH INDICES WITH FRUIT YIELD IN GENOTYPES OF TOMATO (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill)
GROWTH ANALYSIS STUDIES AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF GROWTH INDICES WITH FRUIT YIELD IN GENOTYPES OF TOMATO (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill)
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Date
1995-05
Authors
BODUNDE, JACOB GOKE
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Abstract
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) is an important fruit
vegetable crop all over the world including Nigeria. Its
production level has increased in the last 10 years as a result of
increased land area under cultivation and improved management
practices. Research in the area of physiological determinants of
fruit yield in tomato needs to be enhanced as information in this
area is hitherto scanty.
Growth analysis studies were conducted for two wet seasons and
two dry seasons between 1989 and 1992 to determine the relationship
between fruit yield and plant growth indices and to determine
genotype responses and differences in growth and dry matter
accumulation and distribution. Other areas covered in the study
are determination of seasonal influence on dry matter accumulation
and distribution. The use of simple and fast leaf rectangular area
method in leaf area determination was also examined, and aspects,of
the tomato plant growth that could be used as selection indices in
crop improvement programmes were examined.
Trials were cited at Samaru (11° ll1 N, 07° 38'E) and five
genotypes of tomato viz SAMTOM-7 SAMTOM-10, SAMTOM-16, TI-244 and
TI-468 were used in all trials. Sampling at weekly intervals, for
six weeks starting from three weeks after transplanting was done
for the determination of growth indices through leaf area area and dry
weights. Results showed that specific growth indices values varied
between years and were closely related within season (wet and dry) .
Thus environment was viewed to have had a great influence on all
growth indices determined. Genotype difference in growth indices
per sampling time was not significant. Net assimilation rate and
mean crop growth rate significantly differed between genotypes, in
each of the two dry seasons. Total plant dry weight was higher in
the wet season than in the dry season but this had no direct
relationship with fruit yield. The leaf area index (LAI), stem
weight ratio, and root weight ratio had significant linear
relationship with fruit yield. A high LAI would result in high
fruit yield during the dry season but an optimum LAI was not
attained. Leaf loss due to fungal attack prevented the
establishment of a similar relationship during the wet season.
A high correlation was observed between leaf rectangular area
(LRA) and measured leaf area and the use of LRA in leaf area
determination is thus considered suitable.
Given the controlling influence of the environment on growth
parameters determined in the study, it was suggested that
recommendations resulting from growth analysis studies should
always define the environment of the study. The need to establish
an optimum LAI for high fruit yield in tomato was emphasized
because of the observed significant association of the former with
fruit yield.
The growth parameters determined indicated that the leaf area
index level would determine fruit yield in the tomato crop.
Description
A Dissertation submitted to the Post-graduate School,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy in Crop Physiology.
DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCE
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA - NIGERIA
Keywords
GROWTH ANALYSIS STUDIES,, RELATIONSHIP,, GROWTH INDICES,, FRUIT YIELD,, GENOTYPES,, TOMATO,, (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill),