Ornamental tomato growth and fruiting response to paclobutrazol

The effects of paclobutrazol on plant growth and fruiting characteristics in a new genetic access '468 BGH' tomato, from Germoplasm Bank of Federal University of Vicosa, were examined in two experiments. In one experiment, paclobutrazol was foliar sprayed 3 times at concentrations of 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 mg ai center dot L-1. In a second experiment, paclobutrazol drenches were applied once at 0, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 mg ai center dot L-1. Plant heigth was 20% shorter as paclobutrazol concentrations increased up to 30 mg ai center dot L-1 for foliar application. Similar effects were observed with the internode length. Stem diameter increased as paclobutrazol concentrations increased up to 16 mg ai center dot L-1 for drench application. The plants exhibited smaller leaf area and higher chlorophyll content as the paclobutrazol concentrations increased. Increasing paclobutrazol concentrations decreased fruit diameter but increased the number of red fruits. The number of cluster per plant and the number of cluster with fruits increased linearly by increasing drench paclobutrazol concentrations. Paclobutrazol was effective on controlling growth and fruit characteristics of a potential ornamental tomato '468 BGH'.