Plant growth flowering and fruit formation of tomato grown under protected culture

Abstract

Protected culture is a remedy for environmental problems of crop cultivation. However, seasonal weather changes adversely affect indoor grown plants. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the affect of protected (indoor) culture and other improved technologies, often used in protected culture, on tomato (Lvcopersicon esculentum L.) grown with irrigation during the Maha season. Two indoor cultures together with improved technology and two outdoor (open-field) cultures with and without improved technology were used as treatments. Vegetative and reproductive growth of tomato were evaluated during the respective growth stages. Except at early vegetative growth, dry weather prevailed during the cropping season. Most of the vegetative growth parameters were not significantly different between the indoor and outdoor treatments. However, indoor culture showed significantly higher flowering and fruit formation. The shed house recorded the highest number of fruits per plant. Significantly higher vegetative growth was observed with the use of improved technologies, irrespective of the experimental conditions. Moreover, the improved technologies contributedfor greater number offlowers per plant but not for number of fruits. Indoor culture in combination with the improved technology assured greater vegetative growth, flowering and fruit formation of tomato when compared to outdoor culture under low rainy conditions that prevail during the Maha season. Except for fruitformation, comparative advantages of different indoor structures were not evident.