Phenology growth and yield of grafted tomato plants in the high Andean region of Colombia

Abstract

The BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und CHemische Industrie) scale is a system that helps producers monitor phenology by employing a uniform methodology across different locations. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different scion×rootstock combinations on tomato yield and accumulated degree days for each tomato phenological stage. A randomized block design with four repetitions and four treatments was used. Tomato cv. Libertador seedlings were used as a shoot, self-grafted, and over the rootstocks ‘Olimpo’ and ‘Armada’. In addition, there was a non-grafted plant control. There were no significant differences for the accumulated degree days between the treatments since the tomato cultivation required 2,567°Cd-1. The variables, such as plant height, internode number and length, and number of flowers, did not vary significantly between the grafting and non-grafting treatments. The tomato plants grafted over a vigor rootstock produced 39.4 and 20.6% more first category fruits and total fruit yield than non-grafted ones. The heat units necessary to complete the tomato production cycle was not affected by the grafting, and the use of a vigor rootstock had a positive effect on the tomato yield under plastic house conditions.