Effect of local heating around the tomato shoot apex and flower clusters on plant surface temperature and characteristics related to fruit yield
2010
Kawasaki, Y., National Inst. of Vegetable and Tea Science, Taketoyo, Aichi (Japan) | Suzuki, K. | Yasuba, K. | Kawashima, H. | Sasaki, H. | Takaichi, M.
Heating costs have become a problem for greenhouse tomato production because of the rapid increase in fossil fuel prices in recent years. To reduce fuel consumption without decreasing crop yields, it may be effective to provide only local heating for organs sensitive to low temperatures, such as shoot apexes and flower clusters. In this study, we used a small electric heater to provide local heating around the shoot apex and flower clusters of tomato, and examined differences in surface temperatures and fruit yield. We measured the surface temperature of tomato plants using thermography, and examined various characteristics related to fruit yield. Tomatoes were grown using two local heating treatments ('high', with an average night temperature of 13.0degC for the surface around the shoot apex, and 'low', with a surface temperature of 11.5degC) under the lowest night temperature of 8degC, as well as a control condition, with a surface temperature of 9.6degC. The surface temperature of the shoot apex was increased by local heating, although the lower leaf temperatures ware not. Pollen fertility (measured as the proportion of pollen that accepted an acetocarmine stain), fruit set percentage, and intervals between flowering days of adjacent clusters were improved by local heating, although cultivars appeared to differ in their responses. The yield of 'Momotaro-haruka' was increased by the local heating treatment.
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