Efecto de poda de tallo en el rendimiento del híbrido de tomate miramar F1

Abstract

This study attempted to investigate the effect of stem pruning on crop yield of the tomato variety MIRAMAR F1 (Lycopersicum sculentum L.), 20 days after transplant. Three pruning approaches (eliminating one, two and three stems per plant) were considered. We counted the number of sound and damaged fruits per plot and hectare, and recorded fruit weight in kilograms. In the experiment, we used a randomized block design with four replications. We found that larger early-production fruits were obtained after the one-stem pruning technique was applied. Uniform fruits were produced from the two-stem pruning approach. By contrast, the three-stem pruning and non-pruning methods produced scald-related fruit loss due to lack of protection and decomposition as a result of excess foliage, respectively. On this ground, the largest yields of commercial quality tomatoes were obtained from the two-stem pruned plants reaching a production of 108 688 kg.ha-1, which generates the largest rate of marginal return (373%), representing high profitability for farmers as long as the price of a box of tomatoes (20kg) remains at 12 USD.