Call number: LD2668 .T4 1953 P35 / Master of Science

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Recent reports, especially those of Russian scientists, have emphasized that application of stimulatory concentrations of naphthenates (Naps) induced greater and better growth and productivity of a number of species of plants. This stimulatory action of Naps has been found to result from seed soaking and spraying seeds or developing plants once or repeatedly. However, no systematic attempt has so far been made to investigate physiological and biochemical changes induced in a relative short period following immediately these treatments. A correlation of such changes with final improvements in growth and yield may provide a better understanding of the mechanism of action of Naps It was therefore essential and significant to investigate these aspects. Seeds of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum var. Bonny Best) were germinated in wooden flats containing sterilized soil and were transplanted when 10 days old to plastic pots of 6 inche diameter containing sterilized soil. The plants were grown in a growth room. In separate experiments, potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves when plants were 2, 3, and 4 weeks old. Measurements of vegetative growth, based on fresh and dry weights of plant tops, indicated that maximum stimulation was induced by the 5,000 ppm KNap solution applied to plants when 3 weeks old. It was then decided to investigate the biochemical and physiological responses of the tomato plants to 5,000 ppm KNap when treated at the age of 3 weeks. Determinations of pigment content, intensities of photosynthesis and respiration, activity of enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism, such as nitrate reductase (NRase) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (transaminase), and of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, such as succinic dehydrogenase, phosphorylase, and phosphoglyceryl kinase were made three times at 2-week intervals, beginning 2 weeks after the spraying. Number and fresh weight of tomato fruits, quality of tomato fruits in terms of sugars, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid were also investigated at scheduled intervals. Results indicated the following: (1) In the treated plants, the content of the pigments chlorophyll a and b, and especially carotenoid, in the leaf blades was higher than in control plants, (2) Measurements made with intact plants using an infrared CO₂ analyzer revealed increases in intensities of photosynthesis and respiration of the aerial portions 4 weeks after treatment but the opposite was true 2 weeks after treatment, (3) Under the influence of KNap, of the 5 enzymes examined only phosphorylase activity was found to be stimulated at all three observation times. Transaminase activity was greater 6 weeks after treatment. Activities of succinic dehydrogenase, NRase, and phosphoglyceryl kinase were all reduced by treatments, (4) In a subsequent experiment, leaf blades of plants treated when 2 weeks old were analyzed for succinic dehydrogenase activity 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 days after spraying. The effect on succinic dehydrogenase activity fluctuated with the age of the plant. Parallel changes in the protein content of the enzyme extract could not be detected, (5) Tomato fruit yield, based on number and fresh weight, was decreased by 2,500 ppm KNap treatment but increased by 5,000 ppm KNap. In addition, 5,000 ppm KNap-treated plants were more resistant to blossom-end rot and showed better and quicker recovery when the deficiency disease was treated with CaCl₂. Earlier maturity was found in 5,000 ppm KNap-treated plants, (6) The mature tomato fruits from 5,000 ppm KNap-treated plants contained larger amounts of sugars (reducing sugar and sucrose) than the controls, and the sugars in mature tomato fruits were lost at a lower rate during the storage period. The treatment resulted in decreased titratable acid and ascorbic acid content. It afforded no protection against loss of titratable acid and ascorbic acid during storage. / Science, Faculty of / Botany, Department of / Graduate

Vita. / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Two series of tests were performed in summer 1993 and repeated in summer 1994 to investigate effects of potassium, calcium and water table depth on mechanical properties of tomato fruit. In the first group of tests five mechanical properties stress, strain, ER (ratio of stress to strain at break), energy and toughness were calculated from the force-deformation curve obtained by compression of pericarp disks taken from tomato fruits (cv New Yorker) at the breaker stage. In the second group of tests force, deformation and energy were obtained from puncture tests on whole tomato fruit. The textural parameters were used to compare the effects of the potassium, calcium and water level depths on the mechanical properties of tomatoes. Results showed the effects of calcium and water table depths on the mechanical properties were significant. Tomato fruits exposed to increasing moisture stress levels by increasing water table depth exhibited increased firmness. Increased application of calcium also resulted in increased firmness. Application of different potassium levels had in general no significant effect on breaking stress, strain, ER, energy and toughness of tomato fruit pericarp. / A new method of measuring skin strength of tomatoes is described. The method, refered to as loop method, overcame the problems with the existing method using mechanical grips. Further, the loop method was applied to measure the effect of potassium and calcium on skin strength of tomato. Using the loop method, data were collected on relaxation of tomato skin (epidermis). A computer program was written to model th tensile stress relaxation behaviour of tomato skin. The program was employed to calculate linear and non-linear coefficients of a relaxation model. The fitted values were in a very good agreement with experimental data (R$ sp2>$0.99).

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A field lysimeter experiment was conducted during 1993 and 1994 using 4 water table depths (WTD) (0.3, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 m), 13 treatment levels of calcium (0, 1500, and 2500 kg/ha) and potassium (0, 160, and 400 kg/ha), to determine their effects on tomato quality and yield. Plant parameters measured included: yield (fruit/plant), fruit height, maximum and minimum equatorial width, degree of catfacing (scale of 1 to 5), and sunscald (scale of 0 to 2). / Water table treatment was usually highly significant for the parameters measured at harvest. Largest height, equatorial width and yield of tomato fruit occur with 0.6 to 0.8 m WTD. Fertilizer treatments were rarely significant by WTD, but if they were, they tended to be in the 0.3 or 1.0 m WTD. Maintaining a WTD of 0.6 to 0.8 m and fertilizing with 160 kg/ha of K can improve quality and total yield of tomatoes.

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