INFLUÊNCIA DO SOMBREAMENTO NO CULTIVO DE TOMATE CEREJA

Abstract

In nature, plants occur in diverse environments and have fine adjustments that allow them to tolerate certain conditions of shade or sun. Sunlight exposure affects photosynthesis and resource allocation, therefore plants are expected to show variations in growth, leaf and fruit production. In this study we investigated the growth and reproduction (number of flowers and fruits, and mass and size of fruits) of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) exposed to sunlight and shade conditions. Seedlings were cultivated in an experimental garden, with constant and controlled irrigation; one group underwent 30% shading treatment, and another group was assigned as the control. Data collection included height, number of flowers and fruits, mass, length, and diameter of fruits. The number of flowers was the only variable that yielded significant statistical differences according to the experimental design, in that shaded plants had more flowers. In general, the production of reproductive structures was related to a great extent to plant heigh. This occurred because the higher the plant, the more flowers and fruits it produced. This study shows the ability of tomatoes to adjust to different environmental conditions, without incurring in loss of development and reproductive investment. The number of flowers was affected by the shade condition, but the number of fruits, which is be the best reproductive indicator of the plant, was not influenced by shading.