Physiological response and yield of paclobutrazol treated tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum mill.)

• Published in: Plant growth regulation Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 117 - 123
• Main Authors: BEROVA, M, ZLATEV, Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.02.2000; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical agents; Cropping systems. Cultivation. Soil tillage; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Plant physiology and development; Tending. Growth control; Tillage. Tending. Growth control; Tomatoes; Vegetative apparatus, growth and morphogenesis. Senescence; Root; Growth; Growth regulator treatment; Harmlessness; Stem; Paclobutrazol; Vegetable crop; Water regime; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Lycopersicon esculentum; Triazole derivatives; Development; Plant growth substance; Spermatophyta; Yield; Solanaceae; Photosynthesis; Fructification
• ISSN: 0167-6903; 1573-5087
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1006300326975

Experiments were conducted to study the physiologicaleffect of the plant growth retardant paclobutrazol(PBZ) and its impact on the yield of tomato plants(cv. Precador). Seedlings were treated at the time of prickingout with soil and foliar applications of PBZ atconcentrations of 1.0 and 25.0 mg l^sup -1^respectively. The results established that: -- The reduced height and the increased thickness ofthe young plant stem, as well as the accelerated rootformation are a significant advantage of the PBZtreatment, contributing to the improvement of seedlingquality at planting. -- Soil treatment (1 mg l^sup -1^) and foliar treatment(25 mg l^sup -1^) with PBZ improves the photosyntheticactivity and water balance of tomato cv. Precador. -- PBZ accelerates fruit formation and increases earlyfruit yield. -- The concentrations of the retardant used and themode of its application ensure the production offruits without any residual retardant and harmless tohuman health from a phytosanitary point of view.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]