Retardant substances effects on tomato growth

Abstract

On the cultivar Carmelo F₁, indefinite type, the effects of two growth retardant substances, the 2-chloroethyl trimethylammonium chloride [CCC] and the N,N-dimethyl-piperidinium chloride [DPC], in 2500, 5000 and 10000 ppm concentrations were assessed on vegetative and reproductive parameters. Soil irrigation treatments at the stages of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 expanded leaves were applied. The plants were distributed in complete blocks at random and the trial was analyzed as a 5 x 2 x 3 factorial arrangement with a control as an additional treatment. In relation to the control, both chemicals had a similar behaviour lessening temporarily the plant height, mainly due to the internode lenght reduction. They also produced rougher plants and more resistant to stress conditions. Reproductive parameters were not significantly affected by the chemical concentrations tested, according to the analysis of variance.