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Journal of Plant Sciences

Year: 2007 | Volume: 2 | Issue: 3 | Page No.: 310-317
Research Article

Yield of Tomato as Influenced by Training and Pruning in the Sudan Savanna of Nigeria

A. Muhammad
Department of Crop Production Technology, College of Agriculture, Zuru, Kebbi State, Nigeria
A. Singh
Department of Crop Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto State, Nigeria
Replicated field trials were carried out at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Fadama Teaching and Research Farm, Sokoto, during 2004/05 and 2005/06 dry seasons, to examine the effects of training and pruning on growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum Mill.) variety Roma VFN. Treatments consisted of factorial combination of two levels of training (staked and unstaked) and three levels pruning (three-stem, two-stem and unpruned) and three levels of intra-row spacing (20, 40 and 60 cm) laid out in a split-plot design replicated three times, with training allocated to the main plots and pruning intra-row spacing to the sub-plots. Results of training and pruning are presented in this paper. Results revealed that mean fruit length and diameter in the first trial, fruit weight in both trials and the two trials combined, total fresh fruit yield in the first trial and combined and percentage marketable yield in the first trial and the combined were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the tomato plants that were staked. Results on pruning showed that mean fruit length, diameter and weight in both trials were significantly higher in three-stem and two-stem pruned plants than unpruned plants. Similarly, three-stem pruned plant produced the highest total fresh fruit yield in both trials. Significant training x pruning interactions recorded, showed that the highest percentage marketable yield was at staked and pruned (both three and two-stem) plants; while two-stem with staking or no staking produced the highest mean fruit weight.
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