2017 Volume 16 Issue 2 Pages 149-154
Tomato ‘CF momotaro yoku’ was sown 6 times in 2014 and 2015 to investigate the relationship between the emergence date and flowering date of the first truss of tomato with low node-order pinching and high-density planting. When tomato was sown in April, June, August and September, the time from emergence to flowering (DEF) was 36.4~39.6 days. When tomato was sown in December, DEF was 49.8~62.0 days, being significantly extended. The emergence rate at 4 or 5 days after sowing (DAS) was negatively related to the periods between the flowering day of the first and last plant (r = –0.88). The emergence rate at 3 DAS was affected by the volume of irrigated water: the rate was 82.3, 72.9, 59.4, and 29.2% when irrigated with 3, 6, 9, and 16 mL/cell of water, respectively. Moreover, matric priming shortened the time required for an emergence rate of 80% by approx. 24 h, and for a flowering rate of 80% by approx. 5 days compared with the control without priming. For these reasons, the emergence rate until 4 or 5 DAS was important for the simultaneity of flowering, especially in winter cropping. The water content of the medium affected the emergence rate. Matric priming improves the simultaneity of both emergence and flowering.
