Evaluation of Topaz (propiconazole) for transplant size control and earlier maturity of processing tomato
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Results and discussion: While propiconazole treated transplants demonstrated a growth response similar to paclobutrazol, the effect was not as great. By the end of the 42 day greenhouse production period, propiconazole treated transplants had greater top fresh weights, root fresh weights, and stem diameters than untreated, but generally not as great as paclobutrazol treated transplants (Table 1). Fertilizer levels in the greenhouse required to produce a paclobutrazol treated transplants were approximately 2.5x the amount required by untreated transplants, while propiconazole treated transplants required about 30% more fertilizer (data not shown). No difference in plant fresh weight or number of flowers per plant were found between untreated transplants, while propiconazole treated transplants when evaluated up to 37 and 42 days after transplanting respectively (Table 2, 3) while paclobutrazol treated transplants demonstrated increased plant weights and flower numbers. Total yields did not differ statistically among treatments, but tended to be greater when transplants were treated with paclobutrazol Table 4). However, all treatments (propiconazole and paclobutrazol) increased the percent red fruit and decreased the precent green fruit when compared to untreated, with paclobutrazol generally giving a greater effect (Table 5). The apparent advanced maturity of propiconazole treated tomato transplants was not expected due to a lack of early flowering and early plant growth.