Rapid Propagation of F1 Tomato Via Aeroponic System

Abstract

Three different systems, viz. aeroponics, hydroponics and soil beds in greenhouse were compared for the propagation of F1 hybrid tomato. The results showed that the rate of propagation of cuttings of the plants in the aeroponic system was 9.84 - 11.44 times/60 days,  but only 4.07 and 2.13 times in hydroponics and soil bed system, respectively. Experiments on nutrient compositions, EC, pH and spraying regimes of nutrient solution were also carried out. The highest rate of propagation was obtained with solution II and III at pH from 6 to 6.5 and EC from 1,600 to 1,800 ms/cm and the spraying regimes of 10 seconds every 5 minutes. Compared with cultivation in soil, the plantlets produced via aeroponics system showed very good growth with the fruit yield of 10.00 kg/m², higher than the yield obtained with plants grown in soil