Abstract

WILCHES-ROJAS, Fabián Andrés; ALVAREZ-HERRERA, Javier Giovanni  and  BALAGUERA-LOPEZ, Helber Enrique. ALVEOLUS SIZE AND DIFFERENT WATERING LEVELS IN THE PRODUCTION OF TOMATO SEEDLINGS. rev.udcaactual.divulg.cient. [online]. 2008, vol.11, n.2, pp.141-151. ISSN 0123-4226.

Water management is very important in the tomato culture, the success or failure of the crop depends on it. Unknown facts, under our conditions, are the amount of water required by the plant during germination and subsequent propagation, as well as the optimal tray alveolus size for a better future yield. The effect of the alveolus size and of different water tables in four tomato long life hybrids, planted in peat as substrate was evaluated. A statistical design of random blocks with four repetitions was employed being the variables alveolus sizes and 16 treatments that combined water tables or coefficients of irrigation (1.0; 1.4; 1.8; 2.2) and hybrids (Sheila, Astona, Indaba, Daniela 593) for a total of 64 experimental units (UE). The results showed that the best coefficient (water table) for the tomato seed germination was the 2.2. The optimal tray sizes encountered were those having 72 and 144 alveoli. The best performance was obtained with the hybrid Daniela 593 with water coefficients of 2.2; 1.8 or 1.4, planted in trays of 72 alveoli. This hybrid presented a high rooting percentage and an increased response of production of fresh and dry mass. Appropriate moisture content, guaranteed by the water table applied and the alveolus size, optimized the medium germination time (MGT) and the medium germination velocity (MGV). The highest germination percentage was obtained with the hybrid Sheila.

Keywords : Lycopersicon esculentum Mill; germination; hybrids; substrate; propagation.

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