African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6901

Full Length Research Paper

Influence of distance between plants and pruning of axillary buds on morphological and productive characteristics of tomato plants

Oscar Caballero Casuriaga
  • Oscar Caballero Casuriaga
  • Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Concepción, Concepción, Paraguay.
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Eulalio Morel López
  • Eulalio Morel López
  • Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Concepción, Concepción, Paraguay.
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Pabla Arguello Arguello
  • Pabla Arguello Arguello
  • Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Concepción, Concepción, Paraguay.
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Amílcar Isidro Servín Niz
  • Amílcar Isidro Servín Niz
  • Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Concepción, Concepción, Paraguay.
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Modesto Osmar DaSilva Oviedo
  • Modesto Osmar DaSilva Oviedo
  • Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Concepción, Concepción, Paraguay.
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Wilfrido Lugo Pereira
  • Wilfrido Lugo Pereira
  • Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Concepción, Concepción, Paraguay.
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Derlys Fernando López Ávalos
  • Derlys Fernando López Ávalos
  • Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Concepción, Concepción, Paraguay.
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Adolfo Leguizamón
  • Adolfo Leguizamón
  • Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Concepción, Concepción, Paraguay.
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Ruth Pistilli de Franco
  • Ruth Pistilli de Franco
  • Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Concepción, Concepción, Paraguay.
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  •  Received: 20 June 2020
  •  Accepted: 21 July 2020
  •  Published: 31 August 2020

Abstract

This research was carried out for 120 days in the horticulture area of the Universidad Nacional de Concepción, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias to evaluate how morphological and productive characteristics of tomato plants were influenced by the distance between plants and the pruning of axillary buds. The design used in the experiment was the randomized block method with factorial arrangement (3x3); factor A was the pruning of axillary buds (no pruning, pruning between 1 and 5 cm, pruning between 6 to 10 cm of sucker length) and factor B was the distance between plants (40, 59 and 60 cm). Three repetitions were carried out. Plant height, fruits per bunch, polar and equatorial fruit diameters, and fruit yield per plant were determined. The results indicated significant differences of pruning of axillary buds for all determinations carried out. Only fruit yield per plant showed a significant difference by planting density. Pruning of axillary buds (6 to 10 cm sucker length) gave the best morphological and productive results. It is shown here that pruning of axillary buds has a significant influence on tomato production.

Key words: Lycopersicum esculentum, sucker length, fruit yield.