EFFECT OF SALICYLIC ACID ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF TOMATO

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh during November 2014 to March 2015 to find out the effect of salicylic acid on growth, yield and quality of tomato. The experiment comprised of two factors as Factor A: Different tomato varieties (2 varieties)- V1: Ratan, V2: Mintoo hybrid; and Factors B: Different levels of salicylic acid -SA (4 levels)- SA0: 0 mM SA (control), SA1: 0.1 mM SA, SA2: 0.2 mM SA and SA3: 0.3 mM SA. The two factors experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. In consideration of varieties, the taller plants (18.13, 43.24, 64.01, 78.71, 87.01 and 89.68 cm, respectively) was found from V2, whereas the shorter plants (17.13, 40.00, 59.97, 74.38, 82.55 and 86.25 cm, respectively) was recorded from V1. The higher (64.36%) fruit setting was recorded from V2, whereas the lower (63.81%) from V1. The higher (85.13 ton) fruit yield per hectare was recorded from V2 and the lower (71.00 ton) from V1. The highest (4.34%) total soluble solid was found from V2 and the lowest (4.22%) total soluble solid was observed from V1. In case of different levels of salicylic acid, at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 DAT and final harvest, the tallest plant (18.51, 43.54, 64.44, 80.59, 87.78 and 90.99 cm, respectively) was recorded from SA3, while the shortest plant (16.56, 38.74, 57.28, 69.24, 79.17 and 83.04 cm, respectively) was found from SA0. The highest (65.10%) fruit setting was recorded from SA3, while the lowest (61.89%) from SA0. The highest (86.27 ton) fruit yield per hectare was found from SA3, while the lowest (64.63 ton) from SA0. The highest (4.41%) total soluble solid was found from SA3, while the lowest (4.09%) was observed from SA0. For the interaction effect of different varieties and levels of salicylic acid at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 DAT and final harvest, the tallest plant (20.05, 46.38, 67.86, 85.09, 92.27 and 94.82 cm, respectively) was observed from V2SA3 and the shortest plant (15.92, 36.26, 55.04, 68.24, 78.49 and 83.96 cm, respectively) was recorded from V1SA0. The highest (64.71%) fruit setting was observed from V2SA3 and the lowest (59.31%) from V1SA0. The highest (99.26 ton) fruit yield per hectare was recorded from V2SA3, whereas the lowest (62.18 ton) from V1SA0 treatment combination. The highest (4.58%) total soluble solid was found from V2SA3, whereas the lowest (4.08%) total soluble solid was recorded from V1SA0. Data revealed that among the combination of different varieties and levels of salicylic acid, Mintoo hybrid with 0.3 mM SA encouraged superior growth, yield contributing characters, yield and quality of tomato.