Comparison of aeroponics system and use of substrates in Cherry tomato cultivation (Solanum lycopersicum L. var. cerasiforme)

Objective: To compare the influence of three substrates, tezontle (TZ), peat+vermiculite (TV), and coconut fiber (CF) and aeroponic technique (AE) on the vegetative and reproductive growth of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. cerasiforme) under controlled nutritional conditions. Methodology: After 31 days in the seedbed, the seedlings were transplanted, and 28 days after transplanting (dat) to the four culture systems the number of leaves was evaluated. Plant height, stem diameter (DIAM) on the main plant and lateral shoots, and flower count were evaluated at 42 and 49 dat, and fruit production was assessed between 88 and 120 dat. Results: Either AE or TV significantly improved the number of leaves. The tallest plants were obtained in TV and CF, while the TV substrate enhanced DIAM. AE resulted in a higher number of lateral shoots, but their length and DIAM were recorded in TV. The AE increased the number of flowers at 42 DAT, while TV did so at 49 DAT. Conclusions: Cluster analysis revealed that the main significant differences among cultivation systems were achieved for vegetative variables when compared to production variables, suggesting that the cultivation technique does not affect this parameter. The later indicates that AE system is a promising option for studying the interaction between crops and biostimulants, aiming to enhance agricultural sustainability.