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The effects of pinching treatments carried out at the 3-and 6-true-leaf stages on harvest term and plant growth in processing tomato 'Shuho' (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were examined. Weekly yields in the 3-and 6-true-leaf pinching treatments were increased compared to those in the untreated control at 1 and 2 weeks after the start of harvest, respectively. There were no differences among all treatments in yield, fruit weight, fruit number, or marketable fruit ratio. However, the fruit set ratio in the 3-true-leaf pinching treatment was increased more than those in the other treatments. The flowering periods in the pinching-treatment groups were shorter than those of the control. The number of flowers per lateral shoot in the pinching-treatment groups was greater than that in the control. DW in the lateral shoots in the 3-true-leaf pinching treatment was significantly greater than that in other treatment groups. The distribution of nitrogen and calcium in the lateral shoots in the 3-true-leaf pinching treatment was increased compared to those in other treatment groups. This result suggests that shortening of harvest term and increase of initial fruit yield in the 3-true-leaf pinching treatment would be more efficient practices in processing tomato cultivation.

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Recently, novel gel techniques such as the metal-chelate gel method, in situ polymerized complex method and polymer precursor method have been utilized to prepare many kinds of ceramics. These techniques offer the potential advantage of achieving compositionally homogeneous and fine powders with a narrow size dis tribution. Since the hydration activity of calcium silicates is affected by phase changes and the surface area,