Plant density and growth regulator applications in a tomato crop for industrial processing

Abstract

Growth regulators are used in agriculture in order to reduce vegetative growth, promote flowering and fruiting processes, in addition to regulating production alternation. In this study, the effects of the use of paclobutrazol (PBZ) and different plant arrangements on the development and productive yield performance of tomatoes for industry. The experiment was carried out in the experimental area of the Universidade Estadual de Goias, in a randomized block design, in a 2x5 factorial arrangement (presence of PBZ and absence of PBZ in seedlings x planting spacing), with four replications and ten plants per plot. The application of paclobutrazol (growth regulator) was carried out in seedlings 15 days after emergence by applying 3.5 mL of the solution per tray at the concentration of 42.5 mg L-1 using the commercial product containing 25% of the active ingredient for the solution. The spacings avalied was 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, and 0.35 m between plants and 1.4 m between rows, corresponding to populations of 47,619, 35,714, 28,714, 23,809 and 20,408 plants/ha in each spacing. The initial growth and development of seedlings, characteristics related to productivity, and the physical and chemical quality of fruits harvested in each experiment were evaluated. It was observed that the application of paclobutrazol influenced the phylotechnical characteristics and technological quality of tomato fruits for industrial processing. As for the planting density, the planting spacing between 0.21 to 0.27 m showed better crop development and productivity.