Abstract
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv. Momotaro) seedlings were grown in 70% or 10% relative humidity (RH) for 10 d. Then, their cuttings with 3-4 foliage leaves and two cotyledons each were stored for 28 d in air temperature of 10°C with photosynthetic photon flux density of 4μmol m-2s-1 and RH of more than 95%. Nutrient solution was supplied to the cuttings through the stem cut-ends during storage. Before storage, the percentage of water content of cuttings from seedlings grown in 10% RH was significantly lower than those from seedlings grown in 70% RH. However, RH had no effect on the cuttings' dry weight, stem length, stem diameter, leaf area, and relative chlorophyll content of the foliage leaves. After beginning storage, no wilting was observed in the cuttings from seedlings grown in 10% RH; in contrast, wilting was observed in the cuttings from seedlings grown in 70% RH. On the last day of storage (Day 28), the percentage of marketable cuttings from seedlings grown in 10% RH was 100%, whereas those from seedlings grown in 70% RH was 5%. These results indicate that 10% RH during tomato seedlings growth reduced environmental stress of their cuttings, and decreased the percentage of less marketable cuttings after beginning storage, in comparison with 70% RH.
