1967 Volume 36 Issue 2 Pages 195-205
The present studies were carried out to ascertain the influence of the early environmental conditions and the cultural treatments upon the morphological and physiological development of the tomato flowers and the flower drop.
1. Effects of the early environmental conditions and the cultural treatments on the morphological development and the premature drop of the flowers.
Tomato seedlings (Variety: Fukuju No. 2) were grown at three different night temperatures (17°C, 24°C and 30°C) and/or under different light intensities (100, 74, 49 and 24 per cent of natural day light).
The higher night temperature and/or the lower light intensity retarded the morphological development of flowers and hence resulted in forming smaller flowers with smaller sepals, petals, ovaries and especially smaller anthers and heavy flower drop ensued.
Tomato seedlings were grown in the soils of three different levels of fertility. The lower became the soil fertility, the smaller became the flowers, with smaller sepals, petals, anthers and especially smaller ovaries and ensued the increased flower drop.
2. Relations between the morphological and the physiological development of the tomato flowers.
The seedlings grown at the higher night temperature and/or under the lower light intensity contained the lower level of total sugars and polysaccharides (including starch) in the flowers, stems and leaves.
These seedlings had smaller flowers and especially smaller anthers, with mostly abortive pollens and lower auxin content.
The seedlings grown in the soil of lower fertility contained the lower levels of nitrogenous constituents in the flowers, stems and leaves and had smaller flowers and especially smaller ovaries.
3. Relations between the flower drop and the morphological and physiological development of the flowers.
The flower drop of the seedlings grown at the higher night temperature and/or under the lower light intensity were effectively controlled by the auxin application at full bloom.
The flower drop of the seedlings grown in the soil of lower fertility were not effectively controlled by the auxin application at full bloom.
