title: Greenhouse tomato limited cluster production systems: crop management practices affect yield.
abstract: Limited-cluster production systems may be a useful strategy to increase crop production and profitability for the greenhouse tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill). In this study, using an ebb-and-flood hydroponics system, we modified plant architecture and spacing and determined the effects on fruit yield and harvest index at two light levels. Single-cluster plants pruned to allow two leaves above the cluster had 25% higher fruit yields than did plants pruned directly above the cluster; this was due to an increase in fruit weight, not fruit number. Both fruit yield and harvest index were greater for all single-cluster plants at the higher light level because of increases in both fruit weight and fruit number. Fruit yield for two-cluster plants was 30% to 40% higher than for single-cluster plants, and there was little difference in the dates or length of the harvest period. Fruit yield for three-cluster plants was not significantly different from that of two-cluster plants; moreover, the harvest period was delayed by 5 days. Plant density (5.5, 7.4, 9.2 plants/m2) affected fruit yield/plant, but not fruit yield/unit area. Given the higher costs for materials and labor associated with higher plant densities, a two-cluster crop at 5.5 plants/m2 with two leaves above the cluster was the best of the production system strategies tested.
authors.affiliation: Plant Science Department, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8520, USA.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Logendra
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gianfagna
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Specca
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Janes
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D018533:Biomass; D005638:Fruit / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018527:Hydroponics / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D008027:Light; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects