ELEMENTAL CONTENT IN TOMATO SEEDLINGS AS INFLUENCED BY PRETRANSPLANT CONDITIONING

Abstract

Processing tomato seedlings cultured in 288 cell plug trays were fertilized with solutions containing either 75-32-62 or 150-64-124 ppm N-P-K until the 4 to 5 true leaf stage (12 cm tall). At this developmental. stage, the seedlings were nutrient conditioned with 0-0-0, 75-32-62, 150-64-124, 300-128-248 or 450-194-374 ppm N-P-K for up to 12 days. Within 3 days of initiation of pretransplant fertilization treatments, both the contents and mean concentrations in shoot tissue of total N, P, K and soluble NO3- were significantly altered. The maximum effects on tissue concentrations were observed within 5 days. Shoot growth rate of seedlings was affected within 5 to 8 days by a modification of elemental concentration within fertilizer solutions. The benefits of nutrient conditioning on tomato seedlings will be discussed.