Pollination Studies in Hybrid Tomato Seed Production (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill)

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), a solanaceous self pollinated vegetable crop. It occupies the largest area among the vegetable crops in the world after potato. This study was conducted on pollen viability, stigma receptivity and effect of fruit picking on seed yield and quality, using the parents of hybrid Maheshi, at the experiment field of Horticulture crops Research and Development Institute (HORDI), Gannoruwa, Peradeniya. Three experiments were conducted and Randomized Complete Block Design with 3 replicates was used for all experiments. To identify the effective period for pollen viability, pollen stored for seven days under room temperature(25-27 °C),refrigerated condition(9-100 C), and deep freeze condition^4 - 5 °C) to obtain high fruit set and seed set. For all temperature conditions, the highest values for pollen viability, fruit set%, average fruit weight and seed number per fruit were observed for one day storage period. Emasculated female flowers remained fully receptive until fourth day of emasculation with higher fruit set. Except the second and third pickings there were no significant difference in total fruit yield, seed yield, seed weight and seed number per fruit until seventh picking. The viability of seeds extracted after sixth picking gave significantly lower viability percentage. Therefore, seeds from late pickings should not be recommended in tomato seed production.