Reduce the Harmful Effect of High Temperature to Improve the Productivity of Tomato under Conditions of Newly Reclaimed Land

Abstract

HE GROWTH and productivity of tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L. Alissa F1 hybrid) is affected by environmental factors and agronomical techniques. There were seven treatments used to minimize the injury of high temperature during the summer season, i.e: two shade net treatments (black or green), two spray treatments i.e. Purshade or sea algae (Robin Pro), two intercropping treatments (maize or sunflower) in comparison with the control (without any treatment). Tomato was cultivated during two studies season in the 'Amoun Agricultural Society, Eltal El Kabier, Cairo-Ismailia Desert Road, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt during late summer seasons of 2012 and 2013. This study investigated the effect of different techniques of protected cultivation against unfavorable condition of high temperature on the growth and production of tomato in terms of air temperature, relative humidity and light intensity. Plant growth was evaluated over the two seasons. All physical protected cultivation treatments (cover net or intercropping) decreased light intensity, maximum temperatures and increased relative humidity compared with open field conditions without protection treatment. The black cover net was the most effective method to decrease the air temperature by from 2 to 3°C followed by green net (about 2°C), the intercropping was less effective to decrease temperature (1°C). Green and black net produced the highest significant plant height, number of branches, fresh and dry weight per plant. Moreover, green and black net shortest period from transplanting to flowering comparing to the other treatments, i.e. intercropping with maize and sunflower as well as the control treatments. The earliest and the highest tomato total yield were obtained by using the green net cover followed by black net cover while the latest and the lowest total yield was obtained under control treatment (un shaded). Moreover, the higher fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit wall thickness and number of locules associated with the use of the green net in comparison with other protected cultivation treatments as well as the control during the two seasons. There were no significant among the treatments in fruit color and juice acidity during the two seasons.

Mineral Nutrients, Physiological Disorders, Postharvest Water Loss, and PR Gene Expression in Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Fruit under Shade Nets

“…In 2016, the increased fruit diameter was likely associated with increased soil and plant water status under shade nets leading to augmented turgor-driven cell expansion. Fruit height, weight, diameter, pericarp thickness, and the number of locules increased in tomatoes under the green net (Zakher & Abdrabbo 2014). The effect of shade level on fruit dimension was negated in 2017 due to the east-west orientation of the shade net that affects light transmission throughout the day (Cohen et al 2014).…”