Seed Research. 2006; 34(2):223-225

Effect of planting seasons on seed yield and quality of tomato varieties resistant to leaf curl

virus

University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore – 560065 (India)

B.S. Rajashekar, V.P. Kalappa & Vishwanath. K

Abstract

A field study on the effect of planting seasons on seed yield and quality of tomato

varieties Viz.,Nandi, Sankranthi, and Vybav resistant to leaf curl virus was conducted during

2002-2003. The results revealed that in seed crop raised in rabi season record significantly higher

growth and yield parameters. Maximum fruit yield (71 t /ha) and seed yield (287.38 kg /ha) was

noticed in rabi season followed by kharif. There was drastic reduction in fruit and seed yield in

summer. Among varieties, Vybav recorded highest fruit yield in all the three planting seasons, but

has recorded lowest fruit to seed ratio (0.19%). While, the highest seed to fruit ratio was observed

in Arka Vikas. Nandi recorded highest seed yield/ha (424.87 kg) during rabi season. Nil

infections of leaf curl observed in Nandi, Sankranthi and Vibav in all the three seasons, while

Arka Vikas has recorded cent per cent leaf curl incidence in summer.

Key words:Tomato varieties, seasons, fruit yield, seed yield, leaf curl infection, germination.

Introduction:

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivation is in increasing trend in India for the

last three decades after the introduction of improved varieties and hybrids resistant to leaf curl

disease is one of the major problem, which limit the production. Most of the existing tomato

varieties in are susceptible to this disease. Recently University of Agricultural Sciences,

Bangalore has developed the three leaf curl resistant varieties Viz., Nandi, Sankranthi, and Vybav

collaboration with Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center, Taiwan and Natural

Resources Institute, UK (2). The cost of cultivation of these new varieties is less when compared

with the hybrids and other varieties since the expenditure on pesticide for the management of leaf

curl transmitting vector is avoided.

Seed yield and quality of tomato is mainly dependent on the season and variety selected

for seed production (3). The performance of these three new varieties for different planting

seasons on yield is lacking under the Bangalore condition. In a view of above facts, the present

investigation was planned with an objective to study the effect of different planting seasons and

varieties on yield and quality of tomato seed.

Material and Methods

The experiment was conducted during 2002–03 and was laid out in the factorial

Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four replications (4). The treatment consists of three

seasons viz., kharif, rabi and summer with four varieties viz., Sankaranthi, Nandi, Vybhav and

Arka Vikas. Each treatment consisted of plants accommodated in plot of 4.80 x 3.75 m2. The

plants were spaced at 75 cm between rows and 60 cm between plants in a row. Randomly

selected ten plants in each treatment in each replication were assessed for recording various

observations such as plant height, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per plants, fruit yield per

hectare , seed yield per plant, seed yield per hectare, seed to fruit ratio, per cent leaf curl

infection, 1000 seed weight, germination( ) and seedling vigour index( ).

Seed Research. 2006; 34(2):223-225

Results and Discussion

The data on the effect of planting seasons and varieties on fruit and seed yield and seed

quality are presented in table 1,2 and 3.

Plant Height: Planting seasons and varieties significantly influenced the plant height. The crop

grown in rabi season recorded higher plant height ( 90.90 cm) followed by kharif (81.87 cm ) and

summer (74.40 cm). Among varieties, vybhav recorded higher plant height (86.07 cm) over

Nandhi, Sankranthi and Arka Vikas. The higher plant height in rabi was mainly due to warm

weather prevailed during growth period and it put forth better growth. The varietal differences in

plant height were due to genotypic make up. Such varietal difference also noticed by ( )

Fruit yield: Significant differences in respect of number of fruits, fruit yieldper plant and hectare

were observed due to planting seasons, varieties and their interactions. The season’s effects on

yield components observed to be profound. More number of fruits per plant (70.06), higher fruit

yield per plant (3201 g) and fruit yield/ha (71t) was obtained in rabi season followed by kharif

and summer seasons. There was almost more than 200 per cent reduction in yield during kharif

and summer season. The reduction in fruit yield per plant and hectare in kharif was mainly

attributed to infestation of pests like leaf minor, mites and alternaria disease. In summer season

the crop was severely affected with abiotic stress and biotic stress factors. The reduction in yield

from 35.8 to 72.2 percent was reported by (5) towards delayed planting from January to April.

They also observed higher yield during June–July and November planting under south Indian

conditions. The present findings are inconformity with the above results of (5). Among the

varieties, the Vybhav recorded more number of fruits per plant (57.72), fruit yield per plant

(2214g) and fruit yield per hectare (49t) followed by the variety Vybhav recorded higher 91t fruit

yield per hectare in rabi season. These seasonal and varietal interactions have been reported by

(6) and (7).

Leaf curl infection: Maximum leaf curl infection was noticed in summer at 45 (62.75%) and 90

days (100%) after planting. The higher incidence of leaf curl in summer was mainly attributed by

higher whitefly population in summer. Among the varieties, Sankranthi, Nandi and Vybhav

showed nil leaf curl virus disease in all the 3 seasons, while the Arka Vikas recorded leaf curl

infection ranging from 80 – 100% in all the three seasons. This was mainly due to susceptible

nature Arka Vikas to leaf curl viral infection (8).

Seed yield: Planting seasons and varieties significantly influenced the seed yield per plant and

hectare. Higher seed yield per plant (12.93g) and seed yield per hectare (287.39 kg) was recorded

in rabi planted crop and was followed by kharif and rabi season. The increased seed yield may

attributed to moderate climatic conditions and free from infestations of pests and diseases.

Among the varieties, Nandi recorded significantly higher seed yield per hectare (210.43 kg) than

Sankranthi (142.94) and Arka Vikas (138.42 kg). Even though the fruit yield was highest in

Vybhav, its seed yield was lowest (95.40 kg/ha) and it was due to its lower seed to fruit ratio

(0.18%). Similarly the varietal difference in seed yield due to genotypic was reported by (7). The

Nandi recorded higher seed yield/ha (44.87kg) in rabi seasons.

Seed quality parameters: The quality parameters viz., 1000 seed weight, per cent germination

and seedling vigour index were highly influenced by planting seasons and varieties. Significantly

higher 1000 seed weight (2.37g), germination (90.06%) and s vigour index (1395) was recorded

in both kharif and rabi (2.35g, 89.75% and 1343 respectively). While, the lowest seed quality

Seed Research. 2006; 34(2):223-225

parameters were recorded in summer. Difference in seed quality parameter is due tos seasonal

differences, such results also reported by (9) and (10).

Among the varieties, Vyabhav recorded significantly higher 1000 seed weight (2.45g)

followed Nandi, Arka Vikas and Sankranthi. The variety Sankranthi recorded significantly higher

germination (88.58%), seedling vigour index (1348), which was closely followed by Nandi and

Vybhav. The varietal difference for seed quality parameters was mainly due to genetic up of

varieties. These results are in conformity with finding of (7) and (11) who also reported different

in seed quality due to varital differences.

In conclusion, there is crucial step to find out best season for new released varities. In this

study rabi season found to be better to produce the seed of new varities Viz.,Nandi, Sankranthi,

and Vybav under Bangalore condition.

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