Effects of supplemental lighting and fruit thinning on fruit yield and source-sink relations of greenhouse tomato [Lycopersicon esculentum] plants
1996
Gosselin, A. (Laval Univ., Quebec (Canada)) | Xu, H.L. | Dafiri, M.
The purpose of this study is to determine an optimal source-sink relationship by pruning clusters to an appropriate size to maximize fruit yield of tomato plants growth under supplemental lighting (SL). An increase in SL from 50 to 150 mu-mol.m(-2).s(-1) resulted in an increase in total fruit yield and percentage of marketable fruit. Large cluster size decreased percentage of marketable fruit. A SL of 150 mu-mol.m(-2).s(-1) with fruit thinning prevented the reduction in marketable fruit yield. Using a SL of 150 mu-mol.m(-2).s(-1) increased photosynthesis and sugars and starch content in leaf. Fruit thinning caused an increase in glucose, fructose, and starch content in leaf but a reduction in photosynthetic rate. A large cluster size, representing a high photosynthate demand, decreased sugars and starch content and increased photosynthetic rate. The combination of a SL of 150 mu-mol.m(-2).s(-1) with 3 fruit/cluster appears to be a better sources-sink equilibrium during periods of low natural light
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