Response of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to Salicylic Acid and Calcium

Aims: The current piece study was conducted to find out the role of exogenous foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) and calcium (Ca2+) on growth, reproductive behavior and yield of tomato.

Study Design: The single factor experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications.

Place and Duration of Study: At the experimental farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, during the winter season of November 2013 to April 2014.

Methodology: BARI Tomato-15 was used as planting material. Six different treatments viz., A0=0 mM of SA and 0 mM Ca2+, A1=0.25 mM SA and 0 mM Ca2+, A2=0 mM SA and 5 mM Ca2+, A3 =0.25 SA and 5 Ca2+, A4 =0 of SA and 10 Ca2+ and A5 = 0.25 SA and 10 mM Ca2+ were applied in the morning at 15, 30, and 45 days after transplanting (DAT). Data of plant height, branch plant-1, cluster plant-1, flowers plant-1, fruits plant-1, fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm) and yield were recorded and analyzed for logical interpretation.

Results: The morphological and yield contributing characters as well as yield of tomato were positively influenced with single and combined application salicylic acid (SA) and calcium (Ca2+). Significant increase of plant height and number of leaves plant-1 at 20, 40 and 60 DAT was observed with the application of A3 treatment. Application of A3 treatment also showed significant influence on production of cluster plant-1 (20.44), flowers plant-1 (168.1), and fruits plant-1 (99.42) as well as fruit yield (72.57 t ha-1). However application of A4 treatment failed to improve the morphological and yield contributing characters as well as yield of tomato over the A0 treatment (control).

Conclusion: Results suggest that combined application of SA and Ca2+ successfully increase the tomato fruit yield by altering the morphological and reproductive characters.