Using Sigmoid Growth Curves to Establish Growth Models of Tomato and Eggplant Stems Suitable for Grafting in Subtropical Countries

Chih-Yu Hsieh,Yea-Fang Wu,Shih-Lun Fang,Yung-Chu Chu,Bo-Jein Kuo

doi:10.3390/horticulturae7120537

Chih-Yu Hsieh, Yea-Fang Wu + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7120537

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Abstract

In subtropical regions, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is mainly produced in autumn and winter. To enhance the off-season production of tomato, summer cultivation has become a prime objective. Grafting tomato scions onto eggplant (Solanum melongena) rootstocks is a key method to overcome the difficulties of tomato cultivation in summer. In this study, we collected seedling growth data over six growing seasons in Taiwan and established growth models by employing three commonly used sigmoid growth curves, namely the Gompertz, Richards, and Logistic curves. Cumulative temperature was introduced as an independent variable and its relationship with plant stem diameter determined. The R2 values of the growth models were 0.74–0.85 and 0.72–0.80 in calibration and validation, respectively. Performance did not differ markedly among models in the same growing season, but notable differences were observed among models for different growing seasons. In addition, the estimates of several model parameters differed significantly among the seasons; hence, separate models should be established for different seasons. The results of this study can be used in prediction of tomato and eggplant seedling growth and arrangement of the grafting schedule to improve the efficiency of seedling production in subtropical countries.

Highlights

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a key crop in tropical and subtropical regions
The normality hypothesis test results suggested that the probability plot correlation coefficient (PPCC) values of the nine models were all higher than 0.99 and the p-values were all less than 0.05, indicating that the model residuals obeyed the normality assumption (Table 2)
[26], which reported model using the Logistic and Gompertz nonlinear models to establish the relationship between the Logistic and Gompertz nonlinear models to establish the relationship between the fresh the fresh stem mass of sunn hemp and the days after sowing, the growth models devel stem mass of sunn hemp and the days after sowing, the growth models developed in the oped inpresent the present study demonstrate acceptable study demonstrate acceptable fitting ability. fitting ability

Summary

Introduction

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a key crop in tropical and subtropical regions. Tomatoes are rich in nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, lycopene, and carotenoids [1,2,3].Appropriate consumption of tomatoes can help reduce the incidence of many diseases [4].According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, tomato crops accounted for 5 million ha of cultivated land worldwide and a gross output of180.8 million Mg in 2019. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a key crop in tropical and subtropical regions. Tomatoes are rich in nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, lycopene, and carotenoids [1,2,3]. Appropriate consumption of tomatoes can help reduce the incidence of many diseases [4]. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, tomato crops accounted for 5 million ha of cultivated land worldwide and a gross output of. According to Taiwanese government statistics, tomatoes occupied approximately 4300 ha of cultivated land in Taiwan during 2019, with an output valued at nearly USD 130 million. As tomatoes are native to Andes Mountains in South

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