Effects of mother-plant irrigation schedule on the quality of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) seed.

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the quality of seeds of two tomato cultivars ('Ibadan Local' and 'Ife 1') produced under irrigation intervals of 2, 4, 6 and 8 days at Federal University of Technology, Minna. Fruits were harvested when fully ripe and seed/juice mixture was left to ferment for four days after which the seeds were washed under running tap water and dried at room temperature. Seeds of the two cultivars were spread in open plastic Petri-dishes and stored in a growth chamber at 30C and relative humidity of 70% to accelerate ageing for 16 weeks. Seed samples were drawn and tested for germination, seedling emergence and seedling height and number of leaves per seedling before storage and at 2,4,6,8,10,12,14 and weeks of storage. Seeds of 'Ibadan' Local were significantly heavier than those of 'Ife1 but the trait was not significantly affected by irrigation interval. Seed viability declined as storage period increased irrespective of irrigation treatment in both cultivars. There was no consistent superiority of one irrigation interval over other in respect of seed longevity over time. A general increase in seedling height and number of leaves per seedling was recorded as storage period progressed before a decline sets in at different ages. Generally, performance was best with seeds produced under 4 to 6 days irrigation intervals in both cultivars.