Training and pruning of Tomato

Training and pruning

        Training helps in better utilization of light and air. The fruits are trained under leaves to protect them from sun scald. For outdoor crop, where there is a limited area, stakes are used for training. Training, pruning or pinching are required to produce quality fruits. In indeterminate tomatoes, training increases number of fruits and maintains uniform size of fruits, increasing total yield and quality of fruits. Training is done with the support of wire, string and stakes in glasshouse or greenhouse. In field crop, training is done with the support of bamboo sticks and wire or rope. If there is excessive growth, pinching or pruning of side shoots improves size and uniformity of fruits. Methyl ester of long chain acids and alcohol suppress the side shoot formation. Infra-red light and kinetin also suppress the side shoot formation. Pinching of the main shoot at the top improves the size of terminal fruits. This is done in indeterminate varieties when plants attain the maximum height. To reduce the incidence of diseases, mature old leaves should be removed. However, during summer season, foliage should not be removed to protect fruits from sunscald.

      Both macro and micronutrients are required judiciously for economic yields of tomato. Application of N, P, K and B is essential. However, their quantity depends upon the availability of these nutrients in the soil. The NPK 120:60:50kg/ha should be used. However, for hybrids, higher quantity of N is applied. A high level of N at seedling stage and moderate level at flowering and fruiting stage is required. However, high level of N in plant reduces the C/N ratio resulting in unfruitfulness. The application of P improves root development, whereas K promotes colour of fruits. Higher level of K improves the response of high levels of N for growth and yield. Calcium ammonium nitrate and diammonium phosphate and superphosphate are better sources of N and P. For better utilization of N, split application and band placement are ideal. Foliar application of urea (0.4–0.6%) is very effective. A starter solution of 20g of 12:24:12 N, P and K in 10 litres of water should be applied with irrigation at transplanting.

   

          For raising a healthy crop, application of green manure, farmyard manure, sludge, neem cake and biofertilizer, is beneficial. Boron and zn are important micronutrients required for tomato cultivation. Boron is applied in the form of borax @ 20–25kg/ha as soil application. Spraying of 0.22–0.4% borax at fruit formation stage helps fruit development. Borax improves shape, size and colour of fruits. Thus every farmer should compulsorily apply borax. In Zn deficiency, zinc sulphate should be applied @ 25kg/ha in the soil.

Cultivation practices of Tomato

Cultivation

Raising seedlings

             For raising the seedlings for one ha, 250m² area is required.Generally, in rainy season 7.5m × 1.2m × 0.1m beds are prepared. The beds are covered with a layer of farmyard manure and sand mixed in equal proposition. The farmyard manure should be used @ 4kg/m². During summer and rainy season, there is very heavy incidence of damping off. To protect seeds and seedlings, the beds should be treated with 10% formaldehyde. Before sowing, the nursery beds should be drenched with 0.2% Dithane M-45 or treated with Difolaton or Captan. Solarization is also useful to reduce the incidence of damping off. The seeds should be treated with Thiram or Bavistin @ 2 g/kg. Soon after sowing, the beds should be irrigated with rose can and covered with paddy straw.The beds should be irrigated everyday morning. Seedlings are ready for transplanting 4–5 weeks after sowing. Before transplanting, seedlings should be treated with insecticides 0.1% Nuvacron and Dithane M-45, 0.2%. Hardening of seedlings before transplanting is essential for better setting in the field. Hardening is done by withholding water 4–5 days before uprooting seedlings. Adding 4,000ppm sodium chloride or spraying of 2,000ppm CCC is effective for hardening of seedlings.

Direct seeding

            Tomato is also cultivated by direct seeding. It results in early flowering, early fruiting, early yield and less incidence of pests and diseases. Close spacing has the advantage of higher yield by direct seeding. In California, more than 80% of the processing tomatoes are grown by this method. Seeding of 3–5 seeds in a clump at 25–30cm ensures 2–3 plants/clump. Seeds should be sown 1.25 to 2.5mm deep. After establishment of plants, thinning should be done to maintain 1–2 seedlings/hill.

Planting

            In northern plains, generally autumn and spring summer crops are taken. However, in southern parts, 3 crops are taken which are sown during June–July, October–November and January–February. In Punjab, only spring summer crop is taken due to heavy incidence of tomato leaf-curl virus in autumn. Higher yield is obtained due to more plants/unit area. However, with closer spacing, quality of fruits is reduced due to more incidence of diseases and pests. The recommended spacing is 60m × 45cm or 90cm × 30cm. Flat bed and raised bed methods are used. Raised beds economize watering, there is less incidence of diseases and pests and sometimes has the advantage of staking. Mechanically harvested and processing tomatoes should be planted at close spacing. Hybrids are planted at wider spacing from row-to-row and close spacing of plant-to-plant to facilitate mechanization.

Training and pruning of Tomato

Training and pruning

        Training helps in better utilization of light and air. The fruits are trained under leaves to protect them from sun scald. For outdoor crop, where there is a limited area, stakes are used for training. Training, pruning or pinching are required to produce quality fruits. In indeterminate tomatoes, training increases number of fruits and maintains uniform size of fruits, increasing total yield and quality of fruits. Training is done with the support of wire, string and stakes in glasshouse or greenhouse. In field crop, training is done with the support of bamboo sticks and wire or rope. If there is excessive growth, pinching or pruning of side shoots improves size and uniformity of fruits. Methyl ester of long chain acids and alcohol suppress the side shoot formation. Infra-red light and kinetin also suppress the side shoot formation. Pinching of the main shoot at the top improves the size of terminal fruits. This is done in indeterminate varieties when plants attain the maximum height. To reduce the incidence of diseases, mature old leaves should be removed. However, during summer season, foliage should not be removed to protect fruits from sunscald.

      Both macro and micronutrients are required judiciously for economic yields of tomato. Application of N, P, K and B is essential. However, their quantity depends upon the availability of these nutrients in the soil. The NPK 120:60:50kg/ha should be used. However, for hybrids, higher quantity of N is applied. A high level of N at seedling stage and moderate level at flowering and fruiting stage is required. However, high level of N in plant reduces the C/N ratio resulting in unfruitfulness. The application of P improves root development, whereas K promotes colour of fruits. Higher level of K improves the response of high levels of N for growth and yield. Calcium ammonium nitrate and diammonium phosphate and superphosphate are better sources of N and P. For better utilization of N, split application and band placement are ideal. Foliar application of urea (0.4–0.6%) is very effective. A starter solution of 20g of 12:24:12 N, P and K in 10 litres of water should be applied with irrigation at transplanting.

   

          For raising a healthy crop, application of green manure, farmyard manure, sludge, neem cake and biofertilizer, is beneficial. Boron and zn are important micronutrients required for tomato cultivation. Boron is applied in the form of borax @ 20–25kg/ha as soil application. Spraying of 0.22–0.4% borax at fruit formation stage helps fruit development. Borax improves shape, size and colour of fruits. Thus every farmer should compulsorily apply borax. In Zn deficiency, zinc sulphate should be applied @ 25kg/ha in the soil.

production tecnology of VEGETABLES

Tomato

     Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is most important and remunerative vegetable crop in India. A rich source of minerals, vitamins and organic acids, tomato fruit provides 3–4% total sugar, 4–7% total solids, 15–30mg/100g ascorbic acid, 7.5–10 mg/100ml titratable acidity and 20–50mg/100g fruit weight of lycopene.Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar and Orissa, are major tomato-growing states in India.

Climate and soil

        Tomato, a warm-season vegetable, is grown extensively in cool season also. The optimum temperature required for its cultivation is 15°–27°C. At high and low temperatures, there is low germination of seeds, poor plant growth, flower drop, poor fruit set and ripening. At high temperatures, generally the quality of fruits is poor and there is high incidence of sun-scald. Under extreme high and low temperature conditions, the yield and quality of fruits is reduced. Mild winter condition in northern plains is ideal for seed germination, plant growth, fruit set, fruit development and ripening. Excessive rains adversely affect its fruit set causing flower drop.

            Tomato is grown in varied types of soil—sandy loam to clay, black soil and red soil—having proper drainage. However, sandy loam, rich in organic matter is ideal for its cultivation. The pH of the soil should be 7–8.5. Tomato can tolerate moderate acidic and saline soils. In red and black soils of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, tomato hybrids are cultivated commercially.

Production technoloogy of VEGETABLES

Tomato

       Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is most important and remunerative vegetable crop in India. A rich source of minerals, vitamins and organic acids, tomato fruit provides 3–4% total sugar, 4–7% total solids, 15–30mg/100g ascorbic acid, 7.5–10 mg/100ml titratable acidity and 20–50mg/100g fruit weight of lycopene.Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar and Orissa, are major tomato-growing states in India.

Climate and soil

           Tomato, a warm-season vegetable, is grown extensively in cool season also. The optimum temperature required for its cultivation is 15°–27°C. At high and low temperatures, there is low germination of seeds, poor plant growth, flower drop, poor fruit set and ripening. At high temperatures, generally the quality of fruits is poor and there is high incidence of sun-scald. Under extreme high and low temperature conditions, the yield and quality of fruits is reduced. Mild winter condition in northern plains is ideal for seed germination, plant growth, fruit set, fruit development and ripening. Excessive rains adversely affect its fruit set causing flower drop.

Tomato is grown in varied types of soil—sandy loam to clay, black soil and red soil—having proper drainage. However, sandy loam, rich in organic matter is ideal for its cultivation. The pH of the soil should be 7–8.5. Tomato can tolerate moderate acidic and saline soils. In red and black soils of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, tomato hybrids are cultivated commercially.

Varieties

          A large number of tomato varieties have been developed in the country. More than 25 open-pollinated varieties and 10 hybrids have been released at the national level. Besides, several open-pollinated varieties and hybrids have been released at state level. Some promising and widely cultivated varieties are given in Table 1.

Table 1. Tomato varieties and hybrids recommended for commercial cultivation

Variety	Characters
Arka Saurabh	A selection from a line V 685 introduced from Canada; semi indeterminate plant growth; fruit round, medium-large, deep red, nipple tipped; suitable for both fresh market and processing; recommended for cultivation in Karnataka.
Arka Vikas	A selection from a variable population of American tomato Tip Top; plants indeterminate; fruits medium large with uniform deep red colour, suitable for fresh market, tolerant to moisture stress; recommended for cultivation in Karnataka.
ARTH 3	Plants determinate; fruits large, round, compact; uniform ripening, suitable for table purpose.
ARTH 4	Indeterminate growth habit, fruits medium-sized, round, ripening, uniform deep red colour.
Avinash 2	A heavy-yielder, determinate, compact growing hybrid. Fruits semi-oblong, medium-sized, good coloured, uniform ripening, suitable for processing; tolerant to TLCV.
BSS 90	An early, indeterminate, fresh market and processing hybrid; fruits round, uniform ripening, deep red. Staking is required for good and high quality fruits; suitable for long distant transportation. In addition BT 1, BT 10, BWR 5 and LE 79-5 tomato varieties are resistant to bacterial wilt.
Co 3	A mutant of Co 1, plant erect, determinate, fruits red, round, globular, medium-sized, borne in clusters, rich in vitamin C; recommended for cultivation in Tamil Nadu.
HS 101	A very promising variety; plants determinate; dwarf; fruits medium-sized, round, borne in clusters of 3-4, juicy; suitable for winter season for northern India; tolerant to tomato leaf-curl virus.
HS 102	Plants determinate, extremely early; concentrated flowering and fruiting; fruits medium to small, round, juicy with thin pericarp; sets fruits at high temperature; suitable for Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
HS 110	A selection from an exotic line; plants determinate; late fruiting; leaves broad, potato leaf type; fruits large, smooth, fleshy, jointless, highly suitable for table purpose; recommended for cultivation in Haryana.
Hisar Anmol	Resistant to tomato leaf-curl virus under field condition, plant habit determinate; fruits medium-sized, round, red and fleshy.
Hisar Arun	Extremely early and very high-yielding; plants dwarf, determinate, concentrated flowering and fruiting. Fruits medium to large, round, deep red; recommended for cultivation in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Orissa.
Hisar Lalima	An early variety, determinate plant habit; leaves deep cut, fruits round, big, fleshy, red; fruits larger and less yielding than Hisar Arun; recommended for cultivation in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Hisar Lalit	Resistant to root-knot nematode; plant habit semi-determinate, early-ripening, fruits round, medium to large-sized.
Krishna	An early-maturing, determinate, processing hybrid, fruits square-round, firm, attractive deep red, stand long distant transportation well; heavy-yielder, ideally-suited for rainy and spring summer.
KS 2	Determinate, early-ripening; fruits flat, round, slightly grooved, high-yielding.
Matri	Plants determinate with good foliage cover; fruits are medium-sized, deep red and suitable for processing.
MTH 6	Plants indeterminate; fruits large, round, heavy yielder, suitable for stacking, red after ripening; skin hard, suitable for transportation.
NA 601	Plants determinate; fruits roundish-oval shaped and compact, red; suitable for distant transportation.
Naveen	An early, determinate hybrid, fruits medium-sized, smooth, intense red coloured; plants resistant to Fusarium and Verticillium wilts; fruit setting is excellent even during hot summer months; hybrid widely adopted.
Pusa 120	Resistant to root-knot nematode, fruits medium to large-sized, smooth, round, deep red and attractive; plant habit semi-determinate.
Punjab Chhuhara	Plant determinate, fruits pear-shaped, seedless, uniform red colour, thick wall, firm, fleshy, usually bilocular, retain, marketable quality for a week after harvesting; suitable for transportation and processing; recommended for Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
Pant Bahar	Plant bushy, indeterminate plant growth, branched; light green foliage, stem relatively thin, leaflets small; fruits flattish round, medium-sized, slightly ridged and red.
Pusa Divya	Plants indeterminate; developed by utilizing male sterile lines.
Pusa Early Dwarf	Plant determinate; early ripening; fruits medium-sized, smooth, round oblate, red coloured; suitable for autumn season.
Pusa Gaurav	Plant determinate, cut leaves with light green foliage, fruits yellow, smooth, oblong, 2-loculed, uniform ripening, excellent for processing and suitable for long distant transportation.
Pusa Hybrid 1	Plants determinate; fruit round, smooth, attractive, capable of fruit setting upto 280C night temperature.
Pusa Hybrid 2	An early, heavy-yielder, processing tomato; plants are determinate and compact growing with good foliage cover. Fruits are medium-sized, round, deep red after ripening with good keeping quality. Good for processing and long distant transportation.
Pusa Hybrid 4	Plants determinate, heavy yielder; fruits medium- sized, round, deep red after ripening; suitable for long distant transportation.
Pusa Ruby	An early variety, plant habit is indeterminate; fruits are flattened, grooved, firm, medium-sized, uniform ripening, red and round; suitable both for rainy and spring seasons;
Pusa Sadabahar	Determinate, compact plant type, dark green foliage; medium sized, oval to round fruits, capable of fruit setting from 8 to 280C night temperature.
Pusa Sheetal	Suitable for fruit set at low temperature.
Pusa Uphar	Plants indeterminate, upright growth habit, compact with dark green foliage; fruits borne in bunches of 4-5, attractive, round, medium-sized (60g) thick skinned and uniform in ripening.
Rajni	A very early, productive, determinate, processing type hybrid. Plants compact, fruits round, firm, medium-sized fruits with excellent colour and high TSS; Resistant to Fusarium and Verticillium wilt.
Rashmi	A determinate and widely adapted processing hybrid, it produces excellent round, firm fruits with good colour and high TSS; ideally adopted for hot and dry climate.
Ratna	Plants determinate, fast growing, fruits with foliage cover, medium-sized, uniformly red coloured after ripening.
Roma	Plants determinate; fruits pear-shaped, borne in clusters, elliptical, medium-sized, prolific-bearer, good foliage cover, suitable for transportation and processing.
Rupali	Plants determinate, compact growing, early with good foliage cover. Fruits medium-sized, deep red with high TSS, suitable for processing; very productive, and can be grown in hot and dry weather.