As climate change exacerbates heat stress during the summer season, it becomes increasingly critical to develop effective strategies to safeguard the productivity of tomato plants (Solanum Lycopersicon L.). This research delves into the tools and techniques aimed at enhancing the cultivation of summer tomatoes in the coastal region of Virginia. The study explores the optimization of transplant dates, the implementation of reflective mulches, and the application of kaolin clay particle films. Field trials spanning two seasons were carried out, comparing different planting dates in May, June, and July, as well as the use of reflective, black, and white plastic mulches, both with and without foliar kaolin sprays. The findings of this study underscore the impact of transplanting tomatoes in May, demonstrating a substantial increase in yields when compared to transplanting in June and July. Reflective mulches enhanced plant height and fruit production relative to the conventional black plastic mulch. The combination of kaolin clay sprays with standard black mulch, resulting in yield increases of over 35%, rivaling the outcomes achieved with reflective and white mulch treatments. The application of kaolin did not significantly affect leaf-level physiological processes. These results highlight the significant potential of strategic early planting and the adoption of emerging heat mitigation technologies, such as kaolin clay films, in sustaining and enhancing the productivity of summer tomatoes. This becomes particularly relevant as growing conditions continue to evolve due to rising temperatures and the increasing extremity of weather events resulting from climate change. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / With the challenge of hotter summers due to climate change, finding effective ways to grow tomatoes is more crucial than ever. In our two-season study in Virginia's coastal region, we experimented with various methods to improve tomato growth in these warmer conditions. What we discovered was quite promising. Planting tomatoes in early May resulted in significantly better yields than later planting times. Using reflective mulch was beneficial too; it helped the plants grow taller and produce more fruit compared to traditional black mulch. However, the most impressive result came from combining kaolin clay spray with black mulch. This approach led to a matching of the performance of black plastic plus the combination of kaolin clay against reflective and white mulches. It's interesting to note that the kaolin spray didn't alter the basic functioning of the plants at the leaf level. These findings are encouraging. They suggest that early planting and innovative approaches like kaolin clay sprays can effectively boost tomato production, even as we contend with rising temperatures and evolving climate patterns. Embracing these strategies could be key to successful tomato farming in an era of climate change
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/118600 |
| Date | 15 April 2024 |
| Creators | Gandini Taveras, Ricardo Jose |
| Contributors | Horticulture, Torres Quezada, Emmanuel Amable, Zhao, Xin, Lopez, Lorena, Higgins, Douglas S. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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