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Phytotoxicity Evaluation of Hydroponic Tomatoes Treated with Etridiazole (Terramaster 4EC) A. B. Smith, N. B. Shamiyeh, and C. W. Meister Interpretive Summary None of the treatment rates of the test substance appeared to have phytotoxic effects on the tomato plants in this test. No significant difference was found in yield with the different rates. Introduction Greenhouse tomato production has continued to increase in popularity in Tennessee. With the continued reduction on the demand for greenhouse space for tobacco propagation, former tobacco farmers are needing to find new uses for these facilities. Several diseases can be problematic for greenhouse grow tomatoes. New products are needed to help stem several of these problems. For this reason an experiment was conducted at the Plateau Experiment Station in Crossville to determine the possible phytotoxic effects of Etridiazole on tomato plants. Materials and Methods On July 14, 2003 a crop of 100 ‘Celebrity’ variety tomatoes were planted in a 20' x 50' plastic greenhouse. A trellis system of wooden posts and high tensile fence wire was used to support the tomatoes to a height of 5.5 ft. The tomatoes were planted in 3 gallon black plastic bags filled with perlite. Each plant was watered and fertigated with a spray stake in the bag with 4-18-38 fertilizer, calcium nitrate, and magnesium sulfate. The water pH from a city water source was 6.5 and was adjusted to a pH of 5.8 - 6.0 using nitric acid. Plots consisted of four plants each with plot design being random complete block replicated five times. Four rates of the test material ranging from a 13.4 fld oz./A to 109.6 fld oz./A were applied to the plants as a basal drench. Treatments occurred on Aug 12, Sept 2, Sept 23, and Oct 14. Plants were evaluated for phytotoxicity once a week throughout the test. Tomatoes were hand harvested once a week between Sept 5 and Oct 20. Tomatoes were graded into No.1, No. 2, and cull grades. Numbers and weights were recorded. All data were analyzed by analysis of variance method, and means were separated by Duncan’s multiple range at the 0.05 level of probability. Results and Discussion No phytotoxic effects were observed on the tomato plants by any of the treatments applied. Yield for all fruit grades and average weight of No.1 grade fruit was not found to be significantly different between treatments (Table 1). Yields for all treatments were lower than expected. This could be explained from cool, cloudy conditions that occurred for a large portion of the growing term. Table 1. Tons per acre of No. 1, No. 2, Cull grade tomatoes, and total yield of tomatoes treated with Etridiazole at the Plateau Experiment Station, Crossville, TN.
z Means within a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at the 0.05 level of probability, Duncan’s multiple range test. |
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