Induced-Growth and Yield Responses to Three Varieties of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) by Sodium Azide (NaN3) and Grafting in Wet Season

Abstract

The Effect of Sodium Azize and Grafting on Vegetative Growth PreliminaYield Parameters on Tomato in Wet Season, was investigated with the aim of inducing variability that could be exploited in the improvement of some quality traits in Tomato. The seeds of three varieties of tomato: (Roma, UC-82B and Local varieties) were treated with three different concentrations of sodium azide (0.2mM, 0.4 mM, 0.6 mM and 0.0 mM as control). The result showed highly significant difference (P≤0.01) in the effects of different concentrations of sodium azide on almost all the selected traits except on the fruit diameter where no significant difference was found. More so, the result also indicated highly significant difference (P≤0.01) among the varieties on the selected traits except in germination percent (1 WAP); where significant difference (P≤0.05) was found, and in number of leaves, and fruits diameters, no significant difference exists among the varieties. Furthermore, highly significant difference (P≤0.01) was found on the effects of grafting and sodium azide singly and in combine dosage as treatments on germination percent (1 and 2 WAP), and on number of leaves/plant. Significant difference (P≤0.05) was found on the effects of these treatments on the survival rate, while, no significant difference was found on the effects of the treatments on the number of fruits, fruit diameter, and pH. More so, no significant differences was found in the interactions except in the interaction in the interactions of variety and treatments on the number of leaves where highly significant difference (P≤0.01) was found.