The Effect of Plant Pruning on the Light Conditions and Vegetative Development of Eggplant (Solanum Melongena L.) in Greenhouse Cultivation

Abstract

The Effect of Plant Pruning on the Light Conditions and Vegetative Development of Eggplant (Solanum MelongenaL.) in Greenhouse CultivationThe aim of the present investigations was to find the relations between pruning methods and chosen parameters of vegetative eggplant development in greenhouse conditions. The plant shape modifies the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) conditions in the plant profile. Independence between different pruning methods and vegetative plant development particularly leaves characteristics as well as pigments and photosynthesis products content in leaves was stated. The investigations were carried out in 1999-2001 in the experimental greenhouse of Agricultural University in Kraków, Poland. Eggplant of Tania F1hybrid was used in the early spring-summer production in a heated greenhouse. The following pruning systems were applied: pruning to one shoot with leaving on every node 2 fruit sets and 1, 2 or 3 leaves, and pruning to two shoots with leaving on every node 1 fruit set and 1, 2 or 3 leaves. With the introduction of a greater number of leaves and fruit sets on eggplant shoots irradiation in plant profile was reduced. The value of leaf area index (LAI) depended on the way of pruning. Chemical composition of leaves was slightly dependent on the method of pruning only in the case of assimilation products, i.e. reducing sugar and starch. Improvement of photosynthesis efficiency of intensively pruned eggplants was achieved by the increase of single leaf area and thickness of leaf mesophyll tissues without the increase of the level of assimilative pigments per plant mass unit.

Effect of Shoot Pruning and Flower Thinning on Quality and Quantity of Semi-Determinate Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

“…Several manual operations are performed very steadily: removing the axillary shoots and training the main stem keeps the crop in optimal conditions as regards light interception; deleafing consists in removing the oldest leaves, which are no longer photosynthetically active, in order to avoid plant diseases and facilitate harvesting; truss pruning aims at adapting the fruit load to assimilate production, in order to improve fruit grade and quality (Navarrete and Jeannequin, 2000). Although pruning increases costs in tomato production, it improves light penetration inside the plant canopy and increases photosynthesis efficiency and so fruit yield (Ambroszczyk et al, 2008;Mbinga, 1983;Rajewar and Patil, 1979). Since vegetative growth, as a powerful sink, consumes produced assimilates, limitation of vegetative growth enhances assimilate transport to roots or fruits.…”

The effect of shoot training on yield, fruit quality and leaf chemical composition of eggplant in greenhouse cultivation

“…Energy-saving techniques have been introduced in eggplant production in the greenhouse to reduce its costs and to increase its efficiency. Among modern techniques, the most promising are grafting (Khah 2005), introduction of bumblebees as pollinators (Abak et al 2000), use of growth regulators (Pessarakli and Dris 2003), use of parthenocarpic eggplant cultivars (Acciarri et al 2002), optimization of growth conditions in relation to phase of plant development (Kurklu et al 1998), and plant pruning (Ambroszczyk et al 2007).…”

Harvest seasons and pruning management in pepper: production and pungency of the fruits

“…In studies on eggplant, species of the same family, Ambroszczyk et al (2008) observed that the stem pruning of the eggplant did not show significant effect on the relative index of chlorophyll.…”

“…In studies carried out by Marcelis (1996), the leaf area of pepper and tomato was not influenced by pruning of fruits or leaves, but it can be changed by the increase of the sunlight interception in the canopy, due to the change in plant density. Ambroszczyk et al (2008), in studies, on eggplants, grown using different systems of pruning (one and two stems), report higher leaf area in plants grown with one stem, during vegetative phase. However, during fruiting no difference was noticed between the treatments.…”