Tomato plant growth as affected by horizontally unequal osmotic concentrations in rock-wool.

Tomato plants, cv. Moneydor, were grown in rockwool in a split-root system with equal or different osmotic concentrations. Fruit yield was negatively correlated with the mean electrical conductivity (EC) of both parts of the system. In treatments with two different EC values in the root zone, root development was better in the part with the low EC, and water uptake was higher. Nutrient concentrations showed an increase in the part with the low EC when differences in EC between both parts were 4 mS/cm [4 mmho/cm] or more. A possible explanation is that solutes move through the roots from the part with high to the part with the low osmotic concentration. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission

Growth of tomato plants in a split-root system as affected by various boron levels in the nutrient solution.

Growth characteristics and B translocation were investigated in tomato plants, cv. Moneydor, grown in a split-root system with different B levels. Slight B toxicity was associated with 324 mu mol B/litre in the solution, while 3240 mu mol produced clear symptoms. Exposure of both halves of the root system to 3240 mu mol B reduced the weight of tops by 45%, compared with 25% when only one half of the system was exposed. B deficiency was only observed when B was omitted from both halves of the system. In this case weight of tops, but not of roots, was reduced as was the uptake of other nutrients, especially P and K. There were no significant differences in growth between plants which received 32 mu mol B in one part of the system, and 0, 32 or 324 mu mol in the other. B contents were higher in the leaves on the side of the plant corresponding to the roots growing under high-B conditions. B content of leaves on the low-B side increased when the concentration in the high-B side was increased, indicating a lateral movement of B. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission