Abstract
In the previous paper, it was shown that the growth of the flowers of the tomato plants exposed to 8-9°C were invigorated and the locule numbers increased. The fasciated flower formation in such case may be reasonably assumed to be due to the surplus nutrient supply to the young flower bud just at the pre- or post- differentiation stage.
In this paper, the relationship of the nutrient supply for the tomato plant to the fasciated flower development are reported.
The tomato plants were allowed to receive full sunlight or reduced light with cheese cloth. The flowers of the plants grown under low light intensities showed no sign of invigorated growth even after exposure to low temperature of sufficient duration.
Mineral nutrient supply, especially nitrogen, for the tomato plants were changed. The flowers of the plants, poorly manured, showed only slight sign of growth promotion in response to the low temperature exposure.
The tomato plants were covered with cheese cloth during the period of the low temperature exposure. In contrast to the flowers of the plants grown under full sun light conditions, the flowers of the plants grown under shade conditions showed only slight sign of invigorated growth.
These results show that the promotion of the flower growth is due to the supply of the nutrient from the reserve of the whole tomato plant, as a result of restriction of vegetative growth by low temperature exposure. Without the enough nutrient supply, there occurs no growth promotion in response to the low temperature exposure. The fasciated flower development due to the low temperature exposure may be attributed to the surplus nutrient supply to the young flower buds just beginning growth.
