Abstract
An experiment was conducted aiming to avoid bending or kinking of peduncles of tomato inflorescences when fruits are growing, which significantly reduces fruit yield, and to develop a callous tissue at the damaged point that later suberizes making the peduncle sturdy. Five treatments were compared: bending completely (almost 180 degree between the main stem and the first flower when that first flower was open (BFI) and when first fruit was set (BFr); scratching the lower basal part when first flower of the inflorescence was open (SFI) and when first fruit was set (SFr); and trusses supported by string tied around the peduncle of the truss and secured to the main stem to prevent kinking (control). The treatments were applied to trusses 3rd to 7th in 10 plants per treatment. Treated trusses developed callous tissue that made peduncles significantly thicker than the control. Bending produced trusses with much thicker peduncles than scratching. Treated trusses showed no kinking and had similar fruit yield than control trusses. The effect of treatments was negligible for number of fruits per truss. The average weight of all fruits of the truss was higher in SFr than in the rest of the treatments and differences were maintained from the 1st to the 10th fruit of the truss. Fruit soluble solids were not affected by bending or scratching, however, treatments made at flowering stage produced fruits with higher soluble solids than treatments applied on fruiting stage. Treated trusses in a plant did not change consistently the number of fruits per truss, truss yield, fruit weight, and soluble solids when compared with untreated trusses (2nd and 8th of the same plant). Manipulation to bend completely the peduncle at flowering stage resulted in 10% of peduncles accidentally cracked, which makes BFI treatment not recommendable for commercial tomato cultivation. Scratching the peduncles between first flower open and first fruit set stage avoided kinking while maintained yield and fruit quality.