Fruit Set and Development of Seeded and Seedless Tomato Fruits under Diverse Regimes of Temperature and Pollination1

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Abstract
Fruit set and fruit development of seeded, naturally seedless, and growth-regulator-induced seedless tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Azes), were examined under 17°, 22° and 27°C day temperatures, all with natural daylight and constant 10° night temperature. The best seeded fruit set and development were at 22° day temperature. A high positive correlation (r = 0.9) was found between number of seeds per fruit and fruit size with a day temperature of 27°; there was a lower but still positive correlation with lower temperature. Seedless fruit developed, and attained marketable weight (above 40 g), only when the inflorescences had been sprayed with 20% β naphthoxyacetic acid (B-NOA). Day temperature also affected fruit shape. At 27° the fruit was almost globe-shaped, but at the lower temperatures the fruit became more oblate. Fruit puffiness was particularly related to lack of fertilization resulting from flower emasculation or to lower day temperature affecting set of seed-deficient fruits. “No-Seed” treatment led to green jelly production and pointed blossom-end in fruits, under all temperature regimes.

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