Effect of population densities and paclobutrazol applications on seedling quality and yield in tomato

he development of an alternative greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production system to obtain four annual growing cycles requires delaying transplantation from 50 to 60 days after sowing (das). The study objectives were to evaluate the effects of paclobutrazol applications and population densities in the seedbed on the quality of seedlings to be transplanted at 60 das, and on the number of flowers and yield of plants pruned to three clusters. A randomized complete block experimental design was used with a split-plot arrangement with four replicates and 16 treatments that resulted from combining two population densities (150 and 300 seedlings∙m-2) and seven paclobutrazol treatments (one, two and three applications with 25 and 50mg∙L-1 of active ingredient), plus two controls (without application). The lower density in the seedbed resulted in lower height, larger stem diameter and higher seedling dry weight at 60 das; however, at the end of the growing cycle the number of flowers and the yield per plant were lower. Triple applications of paclobutrazol, with 25 and 50 mg∙L-1, significantly decreased height and leaf area, but dry weight and stem thickness were similar to the control. Triple application of paclobutrazol resulted in two flowers and two more fruits per plant compared to the control, possibly because the temporary arrest of vegetative growth, caused by paclobutrazol, left more photoassimilates available for the inflorescences in formation.