Growth and phosphorus accumulation in tomato cultivars 1

Abstract

The distribution patterns of dry matter and P in field‐grown tomato ‘Campbell‐37’, ‘Knox’, and ‘Tipton’, (Lvcopersicon esculentum mill), were determined from 25 days after emergence to harvest. Dry weight accumulation was about the same for the 3 cultivars up to 55 days after plant emergence. From 55 to 75 days, ‘Knox’ accumulated more total plant dry weight than either ‘Tipton’ or ‘Campbell‐37’, largely due to an accelerated fruit accumulation rate during this period. In the 75 to 105 day interval, dry weight accumulation by ‘Knox’ was less than ‘Campbell‐37’ or ‘Tipton’. Fruit accumulation, as indicated by fruit number increase, was during the 45 to 75 day period for ‘Knox’, the 55 to 75 day period for ‘Tipton’, and the 55 to 85 day period for ‘Campbell‐37’. ‘Knox’ and ‘Tipton’ had a faster fruit ripening rate than ‘Campbell‐37’. The total ripe fruit yields, for single and multiple harvests, were 36.7% and 28.6% respectively, higher in ‘Campbell‐37’ than in ‘Knox’. Phosphorus concentration of stem, leaf, and cluster tissues decreased over the season for the 3 cultivars. Phosphorus concentrations of leaves decreased from 0.49% to 0.16% as plant development progressed from seedling stage to ripe fruit harvest. Phosphorus in the vegetative portion of the tomato plant at final harvest represented only about 10% of the total P accumulated. The plant efficiency with respect to P accumulation decreased from an early stage of plant development as the relative growth rate of the plant declined.