Growth and physiological changes of tomato as influenced by soil moisture levels
Abstract
159 words
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), as in most fruit
vegetables, is often exposed to stresses either imposed by other
organisms (biotic) or arising from imbalance of environmental
factors (abiotic). Water management is a key factor that can
influence tomato production since the crop is affected by both
deficit and surplus irrigation water. Bringing the optimum
irrigation water to the crop might reduce field losses during
production. The effect of five different soil moisture levels (40,
55, 65, 80 and 100% (control)) was studied in tomato cv Money
Maker planted in pots under greenhouse conditions. The water
stress resulted in significant decreases in chlorophyll content,
leaf relative water content (LRWC) and vegetative growth.
Severe water stress (40% of PC) reduced the plant height by
24%, stem diameter by 18% and chlorophyll concentration by
32% compared to the control. The decrease in plant growth as
a result of water stress could be attributed to reduction in the
transpiration rate that was observed.
Subjects
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