Effects of container volume and seedling density on late transplanting and number of flowers in tomato

Abstract

By managing tomato at a high population density, blunting to the third cluster and transplanting 40 days after sowing (das), the transplant to end-of-harvest cycle lasts four months, achieving three cycles per year and a potential yield of 500 t∙ha-1-2 for 25 mL, and 300, 200, 150 and 75 seedlings∙m-2 for 250 mL) were evaluated.A split-plot randomized complete block design with four replicates was used. Morphological variables, number of flowers and yield were recorded. Analysis of variance and comparison of means (Tukey, P ≤ 0.05) were performed. Seedlings with morphological characteristics suitable for transplanting at 60 das were those grown in 250 mL cavities at densities of 75 and 150 seedlings∙m-2. Cavity volume and seedling density did not influence the number of flowers or fruits per plant.