2. Foliar application of calcium improves growth, yield and quality of tomato cultivars
Main Article Content
Abstract
Calcium plays an important role in plant life cycle as it influence intake of nitrogen and boron, promotes early roots formation and growth, reducing the incidence of blossom end rot, encourage seed and grain production, important for the cell at the apical growth of shoot/root, increase calcium content of food and feed crops. Keeping in view their significance, this research study was planned to examine the foliar application of calcium on quantitative and qualitative attributes of tomato cultivars. Tomato cultivars (Super Classic, Rio grand, Bambino and Roma) were sprayed with different calcium concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%) after transplanting and at fruit set stage. Regarding Cultivars, Riogrand had maximum survival percentage, plant height, number of branches, total yield, total soluble solid and fruit firmness with minimum days to flowering, days to fruit set and fruit infestation plot-1. The foliar application of calcium @ 1.5% significantly increased the plant height, number of branches, total yield, fruit firmness with minimum infected fruit plot-1 and TSS content. The foliar application of CaCl2 @ 1.5% reduced the intensity of fruit infestation in cultivar Rio grand as compared to untreated plants of cultivar Roma VF. It was concluded that the tomato cultivar Rio grand should be sprayed with calcium @ 1.5% for better growth, yield, quality and minimal blossom end rot infestation of tomato under the agro-climatic condition of Swat valley.
Keywords: Blossom end rot; Cofactor; Lycopene, Nutrient availability; Structural integrity