Production of Tomato Axillary Shoots- Derived Transplants and Assessment of Their Fruit Yield in Protected Cultivation

This research study was undertaken to evaluate the tomato fruit yield and some main quality traits of vegetative- versus seed derived-transplants. These traits included total fruit yield, average fruit number, average fruit fresh and dry weight, fruit polar diameters, fruit equatorial diameter, number of locules /fruit, fruit flush thickness and total soluble solids (TSS). A sample of 5 plants or 5 fruits was randomly taken per treatment/replicate/to assess these characteristics. Besides, the effect of node position was assessed (the developed axillary shoots on the 6th to the 14th stem nodes). Tomato F1 hybrid cultivar ‘Bistona’ grown in the greenhouse was utilized. The transplants were produced using the discarded axillary lateral shoots. Rooting was achieved in peat-moss medium under high humidity conditions.The data analysis revealed that most of the vegetative propagated transplants surpassed those originated from seeds in yield characteristics. Axillary shoot position affected transplant performance, but it was inconsistent sometimes. It is concluded that vegetative propagation seems to be feasible in tomato. The method complies with current sustainability issues.