Effects of pruning location on growth and fruiting of three tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) varieties in rainforest zone of Nigeria

A field experiment was carried out during the 2016/2017 dry cropping season at the Experimental Farm of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City to examine the effects of location of pruning on some vegetative and reproductive attributes of tomato varieties. The trial was laid out in a 3 × 4 factorial arrangement fitted in a randomized complete block design in three replicates with twelve treatment combinations per replicate and 36 for the whole replicates consisting of four location of pruning, P1 (pruning the tips only), P2 (pruning the lateral suckers only), P3 (pruning the tips and lateral suckers) and P0 (control, i.e., no pruning) on three varieties of tomatoes V1 (Cobra), V2 (Roma VF) and V3 (UC82). The results showed that Cobra variety produced higher fruit weight/plant (37.86 g) and more number of rotted fruits (1.42) than other varieties. Roma VF showed superiority in number of branches /plant (22.58) compared with Cobra variety (15.42) and UC82 (14.67). Pruning at P1 and P0 increased number of branches (23.33 and 21.89) than P2 (14.56) and P3 (10.44) Number of leaves increased in P1 compared with P2 and P3 and the leaf area increased at P3 (36.32 cm2) more than P0 (28.34 cm2). The rotted fruits increased in this order P2, P3 > P0, P1. Since pruning increased the number of rotted fruits/plant but produced non-significant increases in fruit weight/plant (g) and fruit yield (t ha-1), any of the three varieties of tomato could be used in Edo rain forest zone of Nigeria at no pruning.Keywords: cultural practices, leaf area, rotted fruits, stem diameter, sucker

Varietal response of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) to time of fertilizer application

Field experiments were carried out during the 2015/16 and 2016/17 dry cropping seasons at the Experiment Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City. The study was a 2 x 4 factorial fitted into a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. Two tomato varieties (Roma savannah and UC82) and four times of fertilizer application (T1: all fertilizer applied at 2 weeks after transplanting (2WAT), T2: 1/2 of the fertilizer applied at 2WAT and 1/2 at flowering, T3: one third 1/3 applied at 2WAT, 1/3 at flowering, 1/3 at fruiting and T4: all fertilizer applied at flowering) were used. In both years, stem diameter, number of flowers, fruits and fruit weight/plant (kg/ha) and yield were significantly improved by Roma savannah. Fruit diameter (5.70 cm and 4.75 cm) increased with UC82 compared with Roma savannah which produced the lowest fruit diameter (3.95 cm and 3.11 cm). Roma savannah had a higher fruit yield of 8.59 t ha-1 and 7.24 t ha-1 compared with 5.99 t ha-1 and 4.57 t ha-1 produced by UC82. In 2016/17 cropping season T3 and T4 significantly improved stem diameter above other treatments and T2 and T4 produced highest fruit yields which were similar. However, in both years highest fruit yields (10.39 t ha-1 and 7.09 t ha-1) were consistent with T2. The use of Roman savannah variety and T2 treatment should be encouraged for tomato production, in terms of higher fruit yield in this locality

Influence of plant spacing on the growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) varieties

Field studies on the effect of plant spacing on three varieties of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was carried out at the Experimental Farm of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City. Three varieties of tomato and three spacing regimes were used. The experiments were laid out in 3x3 factorial combination in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. The treatments had three varieties of tomato (Roma savanna, UC 82, and Roma VF) and three plant spacing regimes (75 cm x 40 cm, 75 cm x 50 cm, and 75 cm x 60 cm). The results obtained showed that the effect of variety on the vegetative characters was significant (p ≤ 0.05) but did not follow a particular order. The narrowest spacing of 75 cm x 40 cm showed superiority in plant height and leaf area compared with the wider plant spacing of 75 cm x 50 cm and 75 cm x 60 cm. Roma savanna attained 50% flowering earlier and had the highest number of fruits per plant (10.01) and fruit yield (10.87 t/ha) compared with UC 82 (6.73 and 8.73 t/ha) and Roma VF varieties (7.66 and 8.28 t/ha). Significant yield differences were recorded in tomato plants spaced at 75 cm x 40 cm and 75 cm x 50 cm which produced statistically similar fruit yield of (10.41 t/ha) and (9.76 t/ha) respectively above the yield of (7.72 t/ha) obtained from plants spaced at 75 cm x 60 cm.Keywords: Flowering, plants, Roma savanna, UC82, yiel

Utilization potentials of lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet) and the constraints of field pests and diseases in Nigeria

In the last one decade and half, lablab was evaluated for its crop-livestock production potentials in Samaru, Kano and Benin City in both the savanna and humid forest zones of Nigeria. Very early, early and intermediate accessions were identified that may be suitable for dry savanna and late growing season of the humid forest while late, very late and extremely late accessions were identified for moist savanna and humid forest. Vegetable-type, grain-type and dual-purpose lablab were identified. Lablab grain ranged from 600-2400 kg ha-1 with an average protein concentration of 25.3%. Huge litter of leaves and stems was recorded at the end of production period which extended far into the dry season. Short fallow of one year supported maize-cowpea intercrop with component maize having 13.7% grain yields over that of natural fallow. Following a 2-year lablab fallow, subsequent maize yield was 72.7% higher than that from natural fallow. Lablab had an average of 2600 kg ha-1 of biomass and an average of 64.1 kg N ha-1, meaning that lablab has high potential for green manure and soil improvement. Of six herbaceous legumes, lablab was among those that had the highest soil cover. Fresh biomass of 3200 kg ha-1 was achieved at eight weeks after planting. Various insect pests, fungal diseases and parasitic plant including Ootheca mutabilis (Sahlb), Podagrica uniforma (Jac.), Nematocerus acerbus (Faust), Anoplocnemis curvipes (F.), Helicoverpa armigera (Hbn), aphids, Colletotrichum sp., Curvularia sp. and Cassytha filiformis (Linn.) were found on lablab plants, causing damage to the crop.Key words: lablab, fodder, grain yield, pest, diseas