Leaf area and its impact in yield and quality of greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Authors

  • Candido Mendoza Pérez Postgraduate in Hydrosciences. Postgraduate College. Mexico-Texcoco highway. km 36.5, Montecillo. State of Mexico. C. P. 56230
  • Carlos Ramirez Ayala Postgraduate in Hydrosciences. Postgraduate College. Mexico-Texcoco highway. km 36.5, Montecillo. State of Mexico. C. P. 56230
  • Antonio Martinez Ruiz National Institute of Forestry. Agricultural and Livestock Research (INIFAP). San Martinito, C. P. 74100. Puebla. México
  • Waldo Ojeda Bustamante Mexican College of Irrigation Engineers (COMEII). Vicente Garrido No. 106. Colonia Amp. Maravillas. Cuernavaca. Morelos. Mexico. C. P. 62230
  • Jesús del Rosario Ruelas Islas Autonomous University of Sinaloa. Faculty of Agronomy. 16th Street. Juan José Ríos. Z.C. 81110. Ahome. Sinaloa
  • Roberto Ascencio Hernández Postgraduate in Hydrosciences. Postgraduate College. Mexico-Texcoco highway. km 36.5, Montecillo. State of Mexico. C. P. 56230
  • Anselmo López Ordaz Postgraduate in Botany. Postgraduate College
  • Fidel Núñez Ramírez Autonomous University of Baja California. Institute of Agricultural Sciences. Ejido Nuevo León, Mexicali. Baja California

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48162/rev.39.065

Keywords:

Solanum lycopersicum L., ceptometer, photosynthetically active radiation

Abstract

This study aimed to estimate the tomato leaf area index (LAI) by comparing two methods (destructive and interception of photosynthetically active radiation) and the consequent relationship to fruit yield and quality. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with tezontle (red volcanic scoria) as the substrate and a drip irrigation system. The experiment consisted of three treatments: T1, T2 and T3, with one, two and three stems per plant, respectively. The LAI was measured with a ceptometer that estimates the intercepted radiation above and below the canopy. Maximum LAI was found at 1413 cumulative growing degree days (CGDD). Those indexes were 3.69, 5.27 and 6.16 for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Individual correlation models were fitted linearly between the two methods. The R2 values were 0.98, 0.99 and 0.99 with yields of 20, 18 and 17 kg m-2 for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. In addition, T1 produced better fruit size quality with approximately 69, 23 and 8% classified as first, second and third class, respectively. Only 1% was classified as a small fruit. Increasing the number of stems per plant increased the LAI and fruit number but decreased fruit size.

Highlights:

  • The leaf area index (LAI) is a very important variable for growth and development of crops.
  • The ceptometer proved to be a fast, useful and statistically reliable method to estimate LAI.
  • The increase of photosynthetically active radiation favors the photosynthetic efficiency per unit area.
  • The number of stems per plant increase the LAI, dry matter accumulation, plant height and the number of fruits. However, the size of fruit decreases.

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Published

04-07-2022

Issue

Section

Ecophysiology and crop management