The Effects of High Temperature Regime on Cherry Tomato Plant Growth and Development When Cultivated in Different Growing Substrates Systems

Andre Nduwimana¹, Shen Ming Wei²

1. Institut de Pédagogie Appliquée, Univesité du Burundi, B.P. 5223 Bujumbura, Burundi.
2. College of Biosystem Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China.

Abstract: In the southern regions of China, it is very hot and relative humidity is high during summer. Similar conditions also prevail inside the greenhouse. In this experiment, it was observed that when roof ventilations were closed at noon, the greenhouse temperature could rise as high as 50^oC. This resulted in serious plant injury and in certain cases, death of plants. The investigation is a comparative study of heat stress on cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. var.cerasiforme) cultivated in different substrate systems during summer time. The study was undertaken in a glasshouse from June to September 2007 in Hangzhou (Zhejiang Province). Our objective was to assess the critical temperature at a precise growth stage, and thereafter propose an appropriate cultivation system which can mitigate the thermal stress during summer. Growth was markedly related to the growing medium; the effect of temperature was less noticeable at seedling stage. Highly significant differences in the leaf expansion with temperature were noticed, stressed tomato plants showed a significant decrease in leaf area. High temperatures critically affected the plant development especially during flowering stage.

Keywords: cherry tomato, substrate systems, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. var.cerasiforme.

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