The pollination of tomatoes.

Abstract

Studies were carried out on the effect of pollination on fruit set, normal fruit growth, earliness of yield and size of fruit. A high positive correlation was found between the number of seeds per fruit and the fruit weight. When flowers were pollinated with a mixture of inert powder and pollen, fruits were larger and earlier as the proportion of pollen in the mixture was increased. Heavier pollination resulted in larger, earlier fruits with more seeds. A negative correlation was found between fruit weight per seed and number of seeds on the plant when seed growth began. Good pollination was obtained by using an electric vibrator, resulting in earlier ripening and better quality fruits. Auxin sprays increased the number of large fruits containing few seeds. Under poor light conditions extra lighting improved the production of normal flowers.-Lab. Tuinbouwpl., Wageningen. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)