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 200203 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( ).

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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 seasons 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 JuneJuly 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

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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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