App. Sci. Report.

7 (3), 2014: 117-120

PSCI Publications

Applied Science Reports

www.pscipub.com/ASR
E-ISSN: 2310-9440 / P-ISSN: 2311-0139
DOI: 10.15192/PSCP.ASR.2014.3.3.117120

Flower and Fruit Setting of Summer Tomato Regulated by

Plant Hormones
M. D. Sarkar*, M. Shah Jahan, M. H. Kabir, K. Kabir and R. N. Rojoni
Department of Horticulture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
*Corresponding author Email: dulalsau_121@yahoo.com
Paper Information
Received:28 July, 2014
Accepted: 7 August, 2014
Published: 20 September, 2014

ABSTRACT
The experiment was conducted with the signification of realizing the
influence of plant hormones on flower and fruit setting of summer tomato.
The experiment consisted of two varieties namely BARI hybrid tomato-3
and BARI hybrid tomato-4, and four types of plant hormones @ 40 ppm,
viz. Control; 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid; 4-Chlorophenoxy acetic
acid and 1-Naphthalene acetic acid laid out in randomized completed block
design with three replications. The experiment revealed that, application of
2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid hastened flowering, fruiting and number
of flower and fruit clusters plant-1 of the variety BARI hybrid tomato-4.
2014 PSCI Publisher All rights reserved.

Key words: Auxin; flower abscission; physiological behavior.

Introduction
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is one of the most popular vegetable in Bangladesh. Bangladesh producing
0.60 million tons of tomato from 0.15 million hectares of land with an average yield 9.4 t ha-1 (BBS, 2011). November to
February is the congenial period for tomato cultivation in Bangladesh. Although summer tomato can cultivate under a
wide range of hot and wet conditions during the summer season in Bangladesh (Ahmed, 2002). At that time flower and
fruit setting of tomato are interrupted enormously due to high temperature and high humidity which result in poor
pollination and fertilization. Using plant hormones on heat tolerant variety might have better performance over hot and
humid condition. Plant hormones are used extensively to enhance plant growth, fruit number, fruit set, fruit size and yield
of horticultural crops (Batlang, 2008). Spray application of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, 4-chlorophenoxy acetic acid
and Naphthalene acetic acid at the time of flowering resulted in reduced preharvest fruit drop, increase fruit setting and
fruit size in tomato (Alam and Khan, 2002; Gemici et al., 2006; Choudhury et al., 2013). Under Bangladesh conditions,
tomato is available during winter season but there is also great demand in summer season at an exorbitant price. Fruit
setting, fruit size and yield of summer tomato have great value to the farmers during commercial production. Plant
hormones could improve flower, fruit setting and yield during summer season and might have commercial appreciation.
So, an attempt was undertaken to assess the influence of plant hormones on flower and fruit setting of summer tomato.
Materials And Method
The experiment was accomplished at the Horticulture Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka1207, Bangladesh during May 2012 to August 2012. The location of the experimental site was at 24.09 N latitude and
90.26E longitude with an elevation of 8.20 meter from sea level. Soil of the experimental field was silty loam in texture
under the Agro-Ecological Zone of Madhupur tract (AEZ No. 28). The two varieties BARI hybrid tomato-3 and BARI
hybrid tomato-4 as represented by V1 and V2, respectively and four plant hormones @ 40 ppm, viz. Control; 2, 4Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), 4-Chlorophenoxy acetic acid (4-CPA) and 1-Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) as
represented by H0, H1, H2 and H3, respectively were arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design with three
replications. Total area of the experimental plot was divided into three equal blocks where each plot was 1.8 m 2 m in
size. Fertilizers were applied @ 80, 25, 50 and 10000 kg ha-1 for N, P, K and cowdung, respectively (FRG, 2012).
Seedlings about 30 days aged were transplanted to the experimental field on 10 th June, 2012 at a spacing of 60 cm 40
cm. Experimental plots were covered with poly-tunnel with the help of bamboo stick. Intercultural operations were
furnished for proper growth and development of the crop. Required amount of plant hormone was taken using electronic
balance and a stock solution was prepared by dissolving in 1 ml ethanol. Then the stock solution was diluted in distilled
water to prepare the working solutions, just before spraying. Solution was directly sprayed on the plants using hand
sprayer, at early flower and fruit setting. Spraying was done in the early morning to avoid rapid drying-off of the spray
solution. Collected data includes number of flower clusters, flowers, fruit clusters, fruits and also length, diameter,
individual weight and, yield of fruits. Data were analyzed with the help of MSTAT-C program and mean values of all the
parameters were adjudged by Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of probability.

App. Sci. Report. 7 (3), 2014: 117-120

Results
Number of flower clusters and flowers plant-1
Plant hormones and variety were influenced significantly on number of flower clusters and total number of
flowers plant-1. Plant hormones indicating differential response of the tomato varieties (Table 1). Number of flower
clusters and flowers plant-1 was increased about 41% and 37%, respectively when 4-CPA applied @ 40 ppm compared
with the control. BARI hybrid tomato-4 was more sensitive to 4-CPA spray than BARI hybrid tomato-3. The interaction
effects of plant hormones and variety had significant effect on flower clusters and flowers setting. The result indicates that,
flower clusters and total number of flowers plant-1 was increased about 54% and 48% when 4-CPA @ 40 ppm was applied
in BARI hybrid tomato-4 compared with the control (H0V2). Besides, there is an increasing effect on number of flower
clusters and total number of flowers plant-1 in H3V2 (Table 2).
Number of fruit clusters and fruits plant-1
Plant hormones and variety significantly affected on the number of fruit clusters and fruit number plant-1 (Table
1). Application of 4-CPA @ 40 ppm resulted in highest number of fruit clusters and fruits plant -1 about 17% and 23%,
respectively than control. The interaction effect of plant hormones and variety indicated that 4-CPA application in BARI
hybrid tomato-4 resulted, an increased significantly on number of fruit clusters plant-1 except on fruit set plant-1. BARI
hybrid tomato-4 with 4-CPA produced 35% higher fruit clusters than H1V1 and H2V1 (Table 2). However, plant hormone
4-CPA applied in the variety of BARI hybrid tomato-4 increases about 30% fruit set plant-1 compared with H0V2.
Length and diameter of fruit
Plant hormones increases fruit length significantly except fruit diameter. Maximum fruit length was recorded in
H2 (Table 1). The interaction effect of plant hormones and varieties increase the fruit length and diameter. Maximum
length and diameter of tomato fruits were recorded when 4-CPA @ 40 ppm applied on BARI hybrid tomato-4 (Table 2).
Single fruit weight
Application of plant hormones and variety significantly increases fruit weight (Table 1). 4-CPA increase about
30% fruit weight as compared to the fruit set where hormone was not applied. BARI hybrid tomato-4 produces fruits
which are about 9% higher on single fruit weight than BARI hybrid tomato-3. The interaction effect of plant hormones and
variety indicated that 4-CPA application in BARI hybrid tomato-4 resulted an increased significantly on number of single
fruit weight. BARI hybrid tomato-4 with 4-CPA produced 33% higher single fruit weight compared with H 0V2 (Table 2).
Yield of tomato
Plant hormones and variety significantly affect the yield of summer tomato (Table 1). Application of 4-CPA @ 40
ppm resulted in highest yield about 47% than control. BARI hybrid tomato-4 produces about 32% higher yield than BARI
hybrid tomato-3. The interaction effect of plant hormones and variety indicated that 4-CPA application in BARI hybrid
tomato-4 significantly increased the yield. BARI hybrid tomato-4 with 4-CPA produced 35% higher yield than H0V2
(Figure 1).
Discussion
Number of flower clusters and flowers plant-1
Flower clusters and total number of flowers plant-1 significantly reduced due to flowers abscission in the control.
Application of 4-CPA @ 40 ppm in BARI hybrid tomato-4 indicate to overcome this problem of lower flowers set. This
might be occurs due to application of auxin at the time of flowering and resulted lower flowers drop.
Number of fruit clusters and fruits
Fruit setting was prompted in summer tomato with application of 4-CPA compared to plants treated with others
hormone and control. It was noticed that application of 4-CPA enhance fruit setting in summer tomato by reducing flower
and fruit drop that contributed higher number of fruits plant -1. This result is in agreement with the findings of Baliyan et al.
(2013) where reported that tomato fruit set was increased by 9.28%, 16.09% and 32.19% at 15, 45 and 75 ppm
concentrations of 4-CPA respectively, as compared to the fruit set where no hormone was applied. Similar results were
also observed by Ozguven et al. (1997) and Sasaki et al. (2005) where they reported, tomato treated with 4-CPA showed
higher in fruit set.
Length and diameter of fruit
Plant hormones have possibility to increase tomato fruit length and diameter. Prasad and Kumar, (2003) stated
that plant growth regulators promote the cell wall loosening processes providing a state of extensive flexibility within the
cell leading ultimately in plant growth.

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Single fruit weight

Single fruit weight might be increased due to plant hormones. Auxins are known to improve the capabilities of
plants relevant to water economy in such a manner that physiological behavior of plants is modified significantly (Prasad
and Kumar, 2003). Choudhury et al. (2013) stated that combined application of 4-CPA and GA3 increased fruit weight of
summer tomato.
Yield of tomato
Significant variation found due to application of plant hormones and variety in respect of yield ha-1. Higher yield
might be due to lesser flower and fruit drop that leading to higher setting of fruit plant-1 ultimately contributed to yield ha-1.
Application of 4-CPA hormone has positive effect on yield of tomato growing in summer season. This result is in
agreement with the findings of Baliyan et al. (2013) where reported that tomato fruit set was increased by 22.05%, 33.02%
and 64.99% at 15, 45 and 75 ppm concentrations of 4-CPA respectively, as compared to the fruit set where no hormone
was applied.
Table 1. Effect of plant hormones and variety on number of flower clusters, number of flowers, number of fruit clusters, number of
fruits, fruit length, fruit diameter, single fruit weight and yield of tomato
Treatments
Plant hormones
H0
H1
H2
H3
LSD (0.05)
LSD (0.01)
Variety
V1
V2
CV%

Number of
flower clusters
plant-1

Number of
flowers plant-1

Number of
fruit clusters
plant-1

Number of
fruits plant-1

Fruit length
(cm)

Fruit diameter
(cm)

Single fruit
weight (g)

Yield
(t ha-1)

3.52 c
4.38 b
6.05 a
4.80 b
0.59
0.81

16.43 c
17.68 c
26.40 a
23.22 b
1.34
1.87

3.00 b
2.88 b
3.64 a
3.65 a
0.36
0.49

13.67 bc
11.82 c
17.95 a
14.83 b
2.50
3.47

3.15 b
3.27 b
3.93 a
3.62 a
0.33
0.45

3.13 a
3.23 a
4.00 a
3.68 a
0.87
1.20

21.13 d
23.57 c
30.12 a
26.73 b
2.25
3.12

12.08 c
11.58 c
23.09 a
16.54 b
2.97
4.12

4.25 b
5.12 a
10.11

19.05 b
22.82 a
5.19

3.01 b
3.58 a
8.73

12.62 b
16.52 a
13.86

3.29 b
3.69 a
7.56

3.25 b
3.77 a
6.29

24.23 b
26.54 a
7.15

12.82 b
18.83 a
15.16

In a column, means followed by same letter (s) do not differ significantly at 5% level of probability, H0= Control, H1= 2,4-D, H2= 4CPA, H3= NAA, V1= BARI hybrid tomato-3 and V2= BARI hybrid tomato-4
Table 2. Combined effect of plant hormones and variety on number of flower clusters, number of flowers, number of fruit clusters,
number of fruits, fruit length, fruit diameter, single fruit weight and yield of tomato
Treatments
H0V1
H0V2
H1V1
H1V2
H2V1
H2V2
H3V1
H3V2
LSD (0.05)
LSD (0.01)
CV%

Number of flower
clusters plant-1
3.67 d
3.37 d
4.13 cd
4.63 bc
4.67 bc
7.43 a
4.53 bc
5.07 b
0.83
1.15
10.11

Number of
flowers plant-1
16.50 de
16.37 e
17.07 de
18.30 d
21.40 c
31.40 a
21.23 c
25.20 b
1.90
2.64
5.19

Number of fruit
clusters plant-1
2.90 cd
3.10 cd
2.87 d
2.90 cd
2.87 d
4.42 a
3.40 bc
3.90 b
0.50
0.70
8.73

Number of
fruits plant-1
12.00 cd
15.33 bc
10.63 d
13.00 bcd
14.00 bcd
21.90 a
13.83 bcd
15.83 b
3.53
4.91
13.86

Fruit length
(cm)
3.10 c
3.20 c
3.20 c
3.33 bc
3.33 bc
4.53 a
3.53 bc
3.70 b
0.46
0.64
7.56

Fruit diameter
(cm)
3.17 b
3.10 b
3.13 b
3.33 b
3.30 b
4.70 a
3.40 b
3.97 ab
1.23
1.70
6.29

Single fruit
weight (g)
20.10 d
22.17 cd
23.03 cd
24.10 bc
27.03 b
33.20 a
26.77 b
26.70 b
3.18
4.41
7.15

In a column, means followed by same letter (s) do not differ significantly at 5% level of probability, H 0= Control, H1= 2,4-D, H2= 4CPA, H3= NAA, V1= BARI hybrid tomato-3 and V2= BARI hybrid tomato-4

Figure 1. Combined effect of plant hormones and variety on yield of tomato

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Conclusion
Plant hormones have positive and significant effect on summer tomato. Therefore, 40 ppm concentration of 4CPA has great potential to facilitate the flower and fruit setting as well as yield of summer tomato.
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