Solanum Lycopersicum Mill Research Articles

Effect of NAA and GA3 on quality and fruit yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.)

Effect of NAA and GA3 on quality and fruit yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.)

Genetic variability for salinity tolerance of tomato (Solanum lycopersicon MILL.) genotypes determined by stress tolerance indices

BackgroundTomato is an important vegetable crop; however, salinity hampers its growth and yield-related traits. Different tomato genotypes significantly differ in their salinity tolerance; thus, selecting the tolerant genotypes could improve yield and productivity under saline environments. MethodsThis study investigated salinity tolerance of five tomato genotypes, i.e., ‘Pakit’, ‘Riogrande’, ‘Roma’, ‘Continental’, and ‘Nagina’ under 0-, 100-, 150- and 200-mM salinity levels. Data relating yield-related traits (plant height, shoot fresh and dry weights, number of fruits per plant, single fruit weight and fruit yield per plant) and nine different stress tolerance indices were employed to infer salinity-tolerance of the genotypes. ResultsIncreasing salinity levels negatively affected the yield-related traits of genotypes; however, genotypes exhibited varied tolerance to salinity. The better and the poor yield-related traits were noted under 0- and 200-mM salinity levels, respectively. Similarly, genotypes ‘Pakit’ and ‘Nagina’ recorded the highest and the lowest values of yield-related traits. The genotype ‘Pakit’ proved the most tolerant to tested salinity levels compared to the rest of the genotypes. The ‘Pakit’ genotypes had the highest stress tolerance index (0.19, 1.06 and 1.79) and the lowest relative change in yield (6.00, 32.59, and 55.75%) under all salinity levels. Principal component analysis biplot revealed that ‘Pakit’ genotypes had superior yield traits and tolerance indices. ConclusionThe genotype ‘Pakit’ exhibited a higher level of salinity tolerance (6 % yield reduction under 100 mM salinity compared to 27.67 % reduction in ‘Nagina’ genotype. Therefore, genotype ‘Pakit’ can be recommended for cultivation on low to moderate saline soils without significant yield losses. On the other hand, ‘Nagina’ genotype proved the most sensitive to salinity (27.67 %, 56.79 %, and 68.90 % yield reduction under 100-, 150-, and 200-mM salinity, respectively). Therefore, this genotype should not be cultivated on saline soils.

Influence of Silicon Supplementation and Farmyard Manure on Yield Attributes of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) Var. SL-12: A Comparative Study

Influence of Silicon Supplementation and Farmyard Manure on Yield Attributes of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) Var. SL-12: A Comparative Study

Does the Daily Light Integral Influence the Sowing Density of Tomato Plug Seedlings in a Controlled Environment?

To achieve high-density tomato seedlings in a plant factory with artificial lighting, tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum Mill. cv. “Zhongza NO.9”) were used as the experimental material. This study expected to analyze the effects of light intensity (150, 200, 250, and 300 μmol·m−2·s−1) and light time (12 and 14 h), as well as daily light integral (DLI, 10.80, 12.60, and 12.96 mol·m−2·d−1) and sowing density (50, 72, and 105 holes per tray), on seedling quality. The results indicated that biomass accumulation, seedling quality, and energy use efficiency of seedlings significantly improved with an increase in DLI. At a DLI of 12.96 mol·m−2·d−1, seedlings sown at a density of 72 holes per tray exhibited comparable growth characteristics and biomass accumulation to those sown at 50 holes per tray. However, under lower DLIs, seedlings at 50 holes per tray displayed superior growth morphology and seedling quality compared to those at 72 holes per tray. This indicates that increasing the DLI can partially mitigate the negative effects of higher sowing density on seedling quality. Light use efficiency (LUE) and energy use efficiency (EUE) were not significantly different between seedlings at 72 and 105 holes per tray but were higher than those at 50 holes per tray. Therefore, optimizing parameters such as DLI and sowing density can effectively enhance the seedling quality, spatial use efficiency, and light use efficiency in industrial seedling production. Based on the results of this study, a DLI of 12.96 mol·m−2·d−1 (achieved with a light intensity of 300 μmol·m−2·s−1 and a light time of 12 h) and sowing density of 72 holes per tray are recommended for cultivating high-quality tomato seedlings while reducing energy consumption.

Growth and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill) Gustavi Variety Applied with Varying Levels of Cow Manure Vermicompost and Nasa Liquid Organic Fertilizer

Growth and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill) Gustavi Variety Applied with Varying Levels of Cow Manure Vermicompost and Nasa Liquid Organic Fertilizer

Foliar spraying of zinc oxide nanoparticles improves water transport and nitrogen metabolism in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedlings mitigating the negative impacts of cadmium.

The use of bio-nanotechnology in agriculture-such as the biological applications of metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs)-greatly improves crop yield and quality under different abiotic stress factors including soil metal contamination. Here, we explore the effectiveness of zinc oxide (ZnO)-NPs (0, 50 mg/L) foliar spraying to ameliorate the detrimental effects of cadmium (Cd) on the water transport and nitrogen metabolism in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill. cv. Chibli F1) plants grown on a Cd-supplied (CdCl2; 0, 10, 40 μM) Hoagland nutrient solution. The results depicted that the individually studied factors (ZnO-NPs and Cd) had a significant impact on all the physiological parameters analyzed. Independently to the Cd concentration, ZnO-NPs-sprayed plants showed significantly higher dry weight (DW) in both leaves and roots compared to the non-sprayed ones, which was in consonance with higher and lower levels of Zn2+ and Cd2+ ions, respectively, in these organs. Interestingly, ZnO-NPs spraying improved water status in all Cd-treated plants as evidenced by the increase in root hydraulic conductance (L0), apoplastic water pathway percentage, and leaf and root relative water content (RWC), compared to the non-sprayed plants. This improved water balance was associated with a significant accumulation of osmoprotectant osmolytes, such as proline and soluble sugars in the plant organs, reducing electrolyte leakage (EL), and osmotic potential (ψπ). Also, ZnO-NPs spraying significantly improved NO3- and NH4+ assimilation in the leaf and root tissues of all Cd-treated plants, leading to a reduction in NH4+ toxicity. Our findings point out new insights into how ZnO-NPs affect water transport and nitrogen metabolism in Cd-stressed plants and support their use to improve crop resilience against Cd-contaminated soils.

Assessing the Growth, Yield, and Quality of Different Varieties of Cherry Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill. Var. Cerasiforme) Under Polyhouse

Aim: Cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum Mill. var. cerasiforme) are highly favored for their delectable flavor and plentiful small-sized fruits that form clusters on the plant's stems and branches. This study focused on examining the “Assessing the Growth, Yield, and Quality of Different Varieties of Cherry Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill. var. cerasiforme) under Polyhouse”.
 Study Design: In the first and second years of varietal evaluation, the experiment was set up using a Complete Randomized Block Design (C.R.B.D.) with nine treatments (varieties) and three replications Nine cherry tomato are collected from different sources and the varieties are BSS-834, Nagmani, Nagmoti, Rosa, Sheeja, Laila, Darjeeling Local, Ken and Red Cherry.
 Place and Duration of Study: The current study was carried out in the naturally ventilated arched sawtooth polyhouse at the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya in Mohanpur, Nadia (West Bengal) in the years 2021–2022 and 2022–2023.
 Methodology: The dimensions of the experimental plot were 2.5 m x 1 m2, with a row spacing of 50 cm and a plant spacing of 50 cm. The tests used the ridge bed approach, with two rows per bed. During the two years of the experiment, a number of significant characteristics were noted, such as the number of primary branches and the plant height (in centimeters) related to vegetative development. For every replication, a statistical analysis of the mean values was performed.
 Results: Out of all the cultivars evaluated, BSS-834 and Laila showed the best yield and yield-related attributes.
 Conclusion: It is therefore advised to cultivate these two excellent kinds, "BSS-834" and "Laila," in light of the findings.

Effect of Fruit Peel Biochar on Growth and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon Mill.) and Country Bean (Lablab purpureus) in Acidic Soil of Sylhet, Bangladesh

The potential of biochar as a soil conditioner has been approved by scientists worldwide due to its large surface area, high water retention capacity, slow nutrient releasing nature and liming ability; and it might also help to get desirable crop yield in problem soil like acidic soil. Hence, an experimental field trial was operated at the research field of the Department of Agroforestry and Environmental Science, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet to evaluate the performance of banana peel biochar (BB) and orange peel biochar (OB) in the growth and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicon Mill.) and country bean (Lablab purpureus) under acidic soil conditions. In case of tomato, plant height (PH), number of leaves plant-1 (NLP), leaf length (LL), and stem diameter (SD) in treatments having different levels of biochar were significantly higher than the control. The maximum PH (72.20 cm), NLP (21), LL (35.66 cm), SD (9.05 cm), and total leaf chlorophyll content (TLCC) (50.56 µmol m-2) of tomato were found in T7 (3% OB w/w + CF) followed by T4 (3% BB w/w + CF) whereas in country bean, the PH (373 cm), NLP (34), branch number (BN) (3), and TLCC (36.65 µmol m-2) were also recorded in T7 followed by T4. The root length (RL) (43.5 cm) and fresh root weight (FRW) (14 g) of country bean were the maximum at T7, followed by T5 (1% OB w/w + CF). According to the results, positive effects of BB and OB application were observed on all the yield parameters of country bean and tomato. The number of pod plant-1 (NPP) (384), individual pod weight (IPW) (5.78 g), total pod weight plant-1 (TPWP) (2220 g), and pod length (PL) (10.57 cm) of country bean were also found to be highest in T7, followed by the T4. Similarly, the highest NFP (37), IFW (55 g), and TFWP (1980 g) of tomato were noted in T7, followed by T4. After the cultivation of country bean and tomato, a significant increase in the soil pH was noticed at T3 (2% BB w/w + CF), T4, T6 (2% OB w/w + CF) and T7 in respect of the control. Therefore, the findings of the study suggest that both BB and OB could have a positive impact on growth and yield components of tomato and country bean by altering soil pH of acidic soil.

APLIKASI EDIBLE COATING EMULSI LILIN LEBAH CAMPURAN MINYAK WIJEN DAN MINYAK SEREH PADA BUAH TOMAT (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) Application of Beeswax Emulsion Edible Coating with the Addition of Sesame Oil and Lemongrass Oil to Extend the Shelf Life of

The use of edible coating is a way to increase the shelf life of horticultural products. This study aims to determine the effect of the application of beeswax emulsion coating concentration with the addition of sesame oil and lemongrass oil as an edible coating to extend the shelf life of tomatoes. This research was conducted in January ̶ March 2020. The experimental design used was a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with various concentrations of beeswax emulsion combination of 0,5% lemongrass oil and 0,5% sesame oil with various concentrations of beeswax (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%). Beeswax edible coating solution is applied to the tomatoes by dipping the tomatoes into the solution. The results showed that the application of beeswax emulsion edible coating with the addition of sesame oil and citronella oil to tomatoes with a concentration of 3% was able to maintain the fruit's shelf life for 12 days of storage and gave good results on weight loss, total dissolved solids and total acid variables in tomatoes compared to other treatments.

Fruit Yield Loss Assessment of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) due to Late Blight (Phytophthora infestans) Disease in Central Parts of Ethiopia

Tomato is an important vegetable crop grown around the world. Tomato is the most widely cultivated and lucrative vegetable in Ethiopia in particular and in the world in general. It is well known that disease late blight affects tomato crop production and late blight is one of the most devastating diseases of tomatoes worldwide and causes significant loss in production. The objective of this study is to update fruit yield loss assessment data for tomato late blight disease. In this study, 3 treatments were used in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) results for AUDPC and total fruit yield shows significant differences (P<0.05) among treatments. As compared to the unsprayed (control) plot both fungicides significantly controlled the disease at both early and late stage of the crop. The lowest AUDPC (560) was recorded on fungicide Fahem-Gold 72% WP sprayed treatment followed by Mancozeb (752.5). The control treatment (water sprayed) had the highest AUDPC (1592.5). The highest mean fruit yield (16.5 t ha-1) was obtained from fungicide Fahem-Gold 72% WP followed by the standard fungicide (Mancozeb) which gave (8.98 t ha -1) whereas the control treatment gave 4.67 t ha -1. The highest levels of yield loss 71.7% occurred in the unsprayed plots of variety Gulelema as compared to the best protected plot sprayed with Fahem fungicide. Generally, disease and yield parameters indicate that among the two fungicides spray; Fahem was the most effective followed by Mancozeb sprayed plot as compared to unsprayed plots.

Graded level of nitrogen and mulching effect on growth and yield parameters of tomato in Arghakhanchi, Nepal

A field experiment was carried out to find out the effect of different levels of nitrogen and mulching on growth and yield parameters of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) var. VL443 at commercial tomato farm in Sandhikharkha, Arghakhanchi from February – June 2022. The eight treatments were laid out in two factorial RCBD with three replications. The treatment combinations were T1 (Non-mulching with 0 kgha-1), T2 (Non-mulching with 50 kgha-1), T3 (Non- mulching with 100 kgha-1), T4 (Non-mulching with 150 kgha-1), T5 (Mulching with 0 kgha-1), T6 (Mulching with 50 kgha-1), T7 (Mulching with 100 kgha-1), and T8 (Mulching with 150 kgha-1). Growth parameters, yield, and yield attributing traits were recorded. The result indicated that the 150 kgha-1 dose of N application contributes to the higher plant height (178.13 cm), the number of leaves (47.83), fruit length (72.50 mm), fruit diameter (58.83 mm), Individual fruit weight (71.67 g) and yield (2.51 kg/ plant). Similarly, plastic mulch contributes significantly higher plant height (173.6 cm), the number of leaves (47.30), fruit length (68.84 mm), fruit diameter (54.20 mm), Individual fruit weight (72.52 g) and yield (2.53 kg/ plant) as compared to non-mulched condition. Furthermore, fruit yield per hectare in mulching with 150 kg-1 plot was significantly higher in comparison to non-mulching with 0 kgha-1 plot. So, the application of 150 kgha-1 nitrogen along with plastic mulching is recommended to increase the yield of tomatoes under the plastic tunnels in Arghakhanchi.

Effects of Bio-Slurry and Chemical Fertilizer Application on Soil Properties and Food Safety of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.)

This study evaluated the effects of bio-slurry (BS) and chemical fertilizer (CF) application on soil properties and food safety of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.). A field experiment consisting of 100% BS (5 ton BS ha−1), 100% CF (90 kg N·ha−1 + 30 kg P·ha−1 + 13 kg S·ha−1), and control was conducted. Soil samples from all the treatments were collected for their physico-chemical characteristics. The level of ten heavy metals in experimental soil and tomato fruit samples was also determined. Compared to CF and control, the application of BS improved soil physico-chemical characteristics. The BC significantly reduced the mean concentrations of Cd and Mn in the tomato fruit samples. The mean concentration of Ni (18.24 ± 0.61, 23.9 ± 0.3, and 9.66 ± 1.2 mg kg−1) and Mn (15.4 ± 2.4, 38 ± 3.3 and 21.8 ± 0.99 mg kg−1) in tomato fruit samples of BS-treated, CF-treated, and control soil, respectively, was above the safety limit set by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization for human consumption. Similarly, the mean concentration of Cd (7.98 ± 0.72 and 3.29 ± 0.37 mg kg−1) in tomato fruit samples of CF-treated and control soil was above the safety limit. From this perspective, the consumption of these tomato fruits could be unsafe for human health with respect to Ni, Mn, and Cd toxicities. The application of BS could remediate the Cd toxicities, yet other scenarios of phytoremediation would be praiseworthy to address Ni, Cd, and Ni toxicities.

Abundance of Phytoparasitic Root Nematodes Associated with Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) is the most commonly grown prime vegetable crop in India and all around the world. Tomato is cultivated majorly in many states of the nation including Karnataka and plays an important role in the Indian economy. The ripe tomato fruits act as the best source of vitamin A, Vitamin D and also have various antioxidant properties. Tomato crop progressively gets infested by various diseases at different stages from vegetation up to fruiting. The diseases such as bacterial leaf spot, bacterial wilt, leaf curl, fruit canker and Septoria leaf spot are caused by different Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi. Nematodes also result in root-knot, stunting and fusarium wilt diseases which may reduce the crop yield and fruit quality. The present survey was carried out from June 2021 to November 2021 in selected tomato plots of Kalaburagi district to identify different species of root nematodes affecting tomato crop in the selected study area. According to the survey results a total of six species of root nematodes were isolated and identified namely Meloidogyne spp., Globodera Spp., Paratrichodors minor, Helicotylenchus dihystera, Pratylenchus spp. and Rotylenchus buxophilus from selected study plots of Nirgudi, Bhosga, Bhosga Tanda, Gobbur, Sannur, Nadikur and Khanadal. The results suggest that Meloidogyne sps and Paratrichodors minor were most commonly recorded. The highest abundance of these nematodes recrded in Nirgudi region and in Nandikur region population of these root nematodes is least abundant.

Effect of the Enhanced Production of Chlorophyll b on the Light Acclimation of Tomato.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) is one of the widely cultured vegetables under protected cultivation, in which insufficient light is one of the major factors that limit its growth, yield, and quality. Chlorophyll b (Chl b) is exclusively present in the light-harvesting complex (LHC) of photosystems, while its synthesis is strictly regulated in response to light conditions in order to control the antenna size. Chlorophyllide a oxygenase (CAO) is the sole enzyme that converts Chl a to Chl b for Chl b biosynthesis. Previous studies have shown that overexpressing CAO without the regulating domain (A domain) in Arabidopsis overproduced Chl b. However, the growth characteristics of the Chl b overproduced plants under different light environmental conditions are not well studied. Considering tomatoes are light-loving plants and sensitive to low light stress, this study aimed to uncover the growth character of tomatoes with enhanced production of Chl b. The A domain deleted Arabidopsis CAO fused with the FLAG tag (BCF) was overexpressed in tomatoes. The BCF overexpressed plants accumulated a significantly higher Chl b content, resulting in a significantly lower Chl a/b ratio than WT. Additionally, BCF plants possessed a lower maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) and anthocyanin content than WT plants. The growth rate of BCF plants was significantly faster than WT plants under low-light (LL) conditions with light intensity at 50-70 µmol photons m-2 s-1, while BCF plants grew slower than WT plants under high-light (HL) conditions. Our results revealed that Chl b overproduced tomato plants could better adapt to LL conditions by absorbing more light for photosynthesis but adapt poorly to excess light conditions by accumulating more ROS and fewer anthocyanins. Enhanced production of Chl b is able to improve the growth rate of tomatoes that are grown under LL conditions, indicating the prospect of employing Chl b overproduced light-loving crops and ornamental plants for protected or indoor cultivation.

Study of genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance for yield-related traits in tomato (Solanum lycopersicon MILL.).

Tomato is one of the most significant vegetable crops, which provides several important dietary components. Pakistan has a significant low tomato yield compared to other countries because of low genetic diversity and the absence of improved cultivars. The present study aimed to investigate the genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance for yield and yield-related traits in tomato. For this purpose, eight tomato parents and their 15 crosses or hybrids were evaluated to study the relevant traits. Significant variation was observed for all studied traits. Higher values of the genotypic coefficient of variability (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variability (PCV) were recorded for yield per plant (YP) (kg) (37.62% and 37.79%), as well as the number of fruits per cluster (NFRC) (31.52% and 31.71%), number of flowers per cluster (24.63 and 24.67), and single fruit weight (g) (23.49 and 23.53), which indicated that the selection for these traits would be fruitful. Higher heritability (h2) estimates were observed for the number of flowers per cluster (NFC) (0.99%), single fruit weight (SFW) (g) (0.99%), and yield per plant (YP) (kg) (0.99%). Single fruit weight (SFW) (g) exhibited higher values for all components of variability. High genetic advance as a % of the mean (GAM) coupled with higher heritability (h2) was noted for the yield per plant (YP) (kg) (52.58%) and the number of fruits per cluster (NFRC) (43.91). NFRC and SFW (g) had a highly significant correlation with YP (kg), while FSPC had a significant positive association with YP (kg), and these traits can be selected to enhance YP (kg). Among the 15 hybrids, Nagina × Continental, Pakit × Continental, and Roma × BSX-935 were selected as high-yielding hybrids for further evaluation and analysis. These findings revealed that the best performing hybrids could be used to enhance seed production and to develop high-yielding varieties. The parents could be further tested to develop hybrids suitable for changing climatic conditions. The selection of YP (kg), SFW (g), NFC, and NFRC would be ideal for selecting the best hybrids.

Amelioration of the adverse effects of thiram by 24- epibrassinolide in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.)

This study investigated thiram fungicide-induced-stress effects in tomato plants and the possible protective role of 24-epibrassinolide (24-EBL) in response to thiram (tetramethyl thiuram disulfide) toxicity. Tomato seedlings pretreated with 0, 10-11, 10-9 and 10-7 M 24-EBL were treated with 6.6 mM thiram. Tomato leaves harvested 5 and 11 days after thiram treatment (DAT) were used for analysis. Thiram application caused oxidative stress by increased hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde levels, whereas the chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid amounts and total protein content decreased. In addition, the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase decreased in the thiram-treated tomato plants on DAT 5 and 11 while pesticide detoxification enzymes (peroxidase and glutathione- S-transferase) activities increased. The thiram-induced oxidative stress was alleviated after pretreatments with different concentrations of 24-EBL. The hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde levels decreased and the amounts of photosynthetic pigments and total protein content increased after 24-EBL pretreatments. In addition, the activities of antioxidant enzymes and pesticide detoxification enzymes further increased as the concentration of 24-EBL decreased in tomato under thiram stress, and the most effective concentration was determined as 10-11 M 24-EBL. The results suggested that 24-EBL could effectively alleviate thiram-induced phytotoxicity in tomato plants.

GENETIC PARAMETERS AND SELECTION INDEX OF HIGH-YIELDING TOMATO F2 POPULATIONS

Despite the increasing consumption of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) in Indonesia, its yield capacity is lower than its demand. However, establishing high-yielding tomato varieties can overcome this. Strain in F2 populations is the first step in assembling high-yielding tomato genotypes through systematic selection, one through using a selection index. The latest study aimed to identify the genetic diversity and the effectiveness of the selection index for high-yielding F2 tomato population selection. The research took place from September to December 2021 at the Faculty of Agriculture Experimental Field, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The study used an augmented design consisting of four blocks with complete randomization. Nine experimental units were used in this study, consisting of three F2 lines plotted into four blocks with no repetition and three cultivars that repeated in each block as genotype check. The study of 15 growth parameters used analysis of variance, correlation, and path analysis. Results revealed that the selection index proved efficient in selecting the F2 generation of tomato strain populations. Almost all the characters have the highest genetic diversity and showed potential for selection criteria usage. The total number of fruits (0.52), fruit diameter (0.32), and fruit weight (0.29) showed a direct influence on yield, and can serve as selection criteria for yield. The selection criteria were formulated into a selection index, producing 75 tomato strains potentially suitable as families in the F3 generation.

Response of irrigated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill) to mulch application rates

Rapid decline in available water for crop production has led to the adoption of irrigation schedules for meeting water supply throughout cropping seasons. Nonetheless, the loss of water from soil often results in spells of water stress between schedules, which adversely affect crop yield. Hence, the use of mulch in conserving soil moisture in irrigated farming is becoming popular among farmers. In this study, a two-year screenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Pennisetum purpureum (Pp) mulch on tomato (Roma variety) grown in daily irrigation (IFdaily), irrigation at 3-days interval (IF3), and irrigation at 5-days interval (IF5) conditions. The Pp mulch was chopped to 5 cm and applied on the soil surface of each experimental pot at 1 t ha−1 (Pp1), 2 t ha−1 (Pp2), 3 t ha−1 (Pp3), and 4 t ha−1 (Pp4). These rates were compared against a bare soil as control (Pp0). The treatments were laid in a completely randomised design with four replicates. Tomato yield decreased by 53.6% and 26.6% in IF3, and 86.2% and 65.0% in IF5 compared with IFdaily in years 1 and 2, respectively. Among mulch rates, Pp4 and Pp3 increased tomato yield respectively by 107.5% and 99.9% compared with Pp0, while Pp2 and Pp1 were similar in year 1. In year 2, mulch increased tomato yield by 84.1% (Pp1) – 215.3% (Pp4) and contributed substantially to tomato yield in IFdaily (R2 = 0.99; p < 0.01); IF3 (R2 = 0.93; p < 0.01); and IF5 (R2 = 0.25; p < 0.05). However, withdrawing irrigation at 5 days interval was detrimental to tomato yield production.

Impact of Front Line Demonstration on Yield and Economics of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) in Mamit District of Mizoram

The goal of the current study was to determine the yield gap on the tomato crop using FLDS. During the Rabi seasons 2019–20 and 2020–21, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Mamit District, held frontline demonstrations in various parts of the district. With the aim of advancing technology for increased tomato production potential, 30 farmers were chosen to participate in front-line demonstrations of tomato production on 15 hectares. The use of the high-yielding tomato variety Arka Samrat, the application of fertiliser and manures based on a report from a soil test, integrated pest and disease management, etc. are some examples of the improved technology. Prior to and following the frontline demonstration, the respondents' basic information was gathered through personal interviews using a well-structured interview questions. Data on output was gathered from FLDs and local plots regarding the yield and economic performance of frontline demonstrations. Finally, the total yield, percentage increase in the yield, extension gap, technology gap, technology index, and cost of cultivation, as well as net returns and benefit cost ratio, were calculated. The demonstration's outcomes demonstrated that farmers may significantly boost tomato yield by switching to a better variety and implementing sound farming methods. The findings from the current study showed that the mean yield, which ranged from 434 to 452 q/ha, was 443 q/ha. The yield increased by 15.89 percentage points over the farmer's usual practise. The extension gap and technology gap, with a technology index of 80.66% over the demonstration years, ranged from 55.0 to 66.0 and 348 to 366 q/ha, respectively. In addition, compared to the farmer's practise, the displayed plots provided a higher gross return, net return, and benefit-cost ratio.

Efektivitas Pemanfaatan Kulit Bawang Merah dan Air Cucian Beras sebagai Zat Pengatur Tumbuh bagi Tanaman Tomat (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) dalam Upaya Penyusunan Buku Petunjuk Praktikum Fisiologi Tumbuhan

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the use of onion peel and rice washing water as growth regulators for tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.). The research design used in this study was a completely randomized design (CRD), which consisted of 1 group with a sub-sampling pattern consisting of 5 concentrations and 5 replications, a total of 25 experimental units, with treatment design (P0, P1, P2 , P3, and P4). The research parameters include plant stem height, stem diameter and number of leaves. This research was conducted at the Green House Laboratory of the Biology Education Study Program, FSTT, Mandalika University of Education. The object of this research is the growth of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.). Parameters measured were stem height, stem diameter, and number of leaves of tomato plants with a period of 21, 28, 35, and 42 days after planting (DAT). Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results of the One Way ANOVA analysis showed that the parameter value of tomato plant stem height was 0.999 &gt; 0.05, the analysis of the parameter value of the stem diameter was 0.929 &gt; 0.05, and the analysis of the parameter values ​​for the number of leaves was 0.997 &gt; 0.05, so the three tomato plant parameter data no significance or no effect (H0) is accepted. The results of the value of the validation of the practicum manual obtained values ​​with criteria suitable for use through the assessment of validator 1, namely 72%, validator 2 is 75%, and validator 3 is 79%.