Differences in Branch Formation in Indeterminate and Determinate Tomato Types

Abstract

Lateral shoot growth generated at leaf axils was investigated in indeterminate and determinate tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) during spring and autumn-winter cultivation. In indeterminate cultivars, the lateral shoots at the first and second nodes below the terminal flower bud grew longer than those at the third or lower nodes in spring and at 5 weeks after transplanting in autumn-winter. In determinate cultivars, lateral shoots at the first node below the terminal flower bud were shorter than those at lower nodes. Stem lengths and lateral shoot lengths of indeterminate cultivars were longer than those of determinate cultivars. In indeterminate cultivars, the lateral shoot of the second node below the terminal flower bud was suppressed significantly by flower bud removal but not by shoot removal (the terminal flower bud and the axillary bud from first node below the terminal flower bud) compared with untreated plants. In determinate cultivars, the lateral shoot of the second node below the terminal flower bud was not promoted by flower bud removal, but was significantly promoted by shoot removal compared with untreated plants. Terminal flower bud emergence was affected during lateral shoot elongation of indeterminate cultivars, but was not affected during lateral shoot elongation of determinate cultivars.