Effect of different staking methods on yield and quality of indeterminate tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) varieties under jimma condition, Ethiopia

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) is amongst the most important fresh vegetables used world wide including Ethiopia. Ethiopia is characterized by warm, dry day and cooler night which are favorable for optimum growth and development of tomatoes. Recognizing the importance of staking to reduce the effect of high moisture stress and disease incidence on yield and quality of tomatoes, a field study was conducted on the effect of different staking methods on yield and quality of indeterminate tomato varieties under Jimma Condition, at the experimental field of Jimma University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma. Miya, Marglobe and Metadel varieties were used, while the staking methods were single post staking (T1), single string staking (T2), French type staking (T3) and the non- staking (T0). A Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications was used. The result obtained showed highly significant (P<0.001)interaction effect between the staking methods and varieties per plant on plant height, number of marketable and unmarketable fruits, marketable and unmarketable fruit yield, fruit shape index, titratable acid (TA), Total Soluble Solids (TSS), and sugar-acid ration, root, stem and fruit dry matters. Number of flowers and fruits set per cluster were also highly significant amongst the varieties and the staking methods. The main effect revealed that amongst the staking methods, French type staking gave the highest number of flowers (73.6); whereas, amongst the varieties, Miya had the highest number of flowers per plant (75.26). Similarly, the highest number of fruits set was recorded from the same variety, while the three staking methods did not differ from each other but only differ from the non- staked control. The highest number of marketable fruit was found from Miya variety with French type staking (27.53), while the lowest number was observed from the non-staked control. The correlation coefficient strongly supported the result as significantly positive relationship between the number of flower with fruit set (r = 0.95), and number of marketable fruit (r=0.71). The highest numbers of unmarketable fruits per plant were recorded from Metadel with non-staking (20.86) and the lowest number was from French staked Miya, which did not significantly differ from single string and single post staked maglobe. The highest marketable fruit yield per plant was observed from Metadel with French type staking (1.75kg) per plant but the least was obtained from Miya with non-staking (0.64kg. In terms of the Total sugar, Miya was found to contain more sugar 4.64%. High percentage of late blight and fruit rot were mainly recorded from control plots. Blossom end rot was high where Miya and metadel were not staked. The profits recorded were high from French type staking of Metadel though not significantly different from single post and French type staked Miya. Least profit was obtained from non- and single post staking of Metadel and are thus recommended for better yield and quality. While staking methods need to be studied along with pruning and types of animals and birds that are pest to tomato fruits under Jimma condition in Ethiopia.