Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as inductor of growth and flowering in tomato

Abstract

Tomato growth and fruiting are regulated by the interaction between environmental and endogenous factors. Thus, the use of organic compounds in the proper dosage can contribute to accelerate growth, development and productivity of tomatoes. In this sense, the objective of this work was to evaluate the growth and flowering of tomato plants submitted to different concentrations of acetyl salicylic acid (ASA). The experiment was carried out with the cultivar Santa Cruz Kada in a completely randomized design with five replications and six treatments with concentrations 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mmol L-1 of acetylsalicylic acid. The different concentrations of AAS in this study did not change the stem diameter, however, other characteristics were influenced by the ASA. Concentrations over 15.6 mmol L-1 reduced the emission of tomato leaves, however, there was an increasing response to the emission of flower buds, SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) index and plant height.