Growth and Yield Performance of Grafted Tomato Varieties Under Protective Structures

Abstract

Among the tomato varieties located in Mapandan, Mayantoc, Tarlac, Sherry significantly had longer vine length at 30, 60, and 90 days after transplanting,. It also had shorter days from flowering to first fruit pick- ing. Moreover, besides havingmore number of fruit picking, Sherry had heavier fruits that were marketable with total and computed yields. All its protective structures significantly increased percentage survival with vine length at 90 DAT that had, promoted early flowering and fruit yields. In addition to these structures, polyethylene plastic increased vine length at 30 to 90 DAT and nylon net and AVRDC at 60 DAT. The AVRDC structure considerably increased number of fruit pickings, fruit weight with lower number of har- vested fruits, and higher marketable, total and computed yields. Meanwhile, the nylon net structure also significantly increased fruit weight with lower number of harvested fruits that were marketable with total, and computed yields. There were no significant differences on percentage fruit setting and the number of days from 50% flowering to first fruit picking. Sherry grown under protective structures had significantly longer vine length at 60 and 90 DAT, and with higher fruit weight. Likewise, nylon net structure had also significantly increased the fruit weight of Sherry. CHT 501 and Season Red grown under nylon net struc- ture also had significantly higher fruit weight. No significant interactions were noted between varieties and protective structures on percentage survival, vine length at 30 DAT, average number of harvested fruits, marketable, non-marketable, total and computed yields. This study aimed to determine the best grafted tomato variety in the above-mentioned location, as well as, to establish the best kind of protective structures from July 2006 to January 2007.