Effects of Sub-low Temperature on Growth and Inflorescence of Cherry Tomato
The seedlings of cherry tomato with two leaves and one heart(when the third leaf is expanded)were placed in an artificial climate chamber to simulate the sub-low temperature environment.The effects of sub-low temperature on the growth of cherry tomato seedlings and the effects of sub-low temperature on flower bud differentiation and inflorescence formation of cherry tomato seedlings were studied in order to pro-vide theoretical basis and practical guidance for the management and optimization of flower bud differentiation of cherry tomato seedlings.The results showed that the plant height,stem diameter,leaf area,leaf length,leaf width,root length,root surface area,root volume and root tip num-ber of cherry tomato seedlings treated with sub-low temperature were significantly different from those of the control.The growth rate was smaller than that of the control,the seedling growth was slow,the dry matter accumulation was less,the chlorophyll content was reduced,the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII was reduced,and the growth and development of cherry tomato seedlings were inhibited.The sub-low tempera-ture at seedling stage affected the flower bud differentiation of the first,second and third spikes,resulting in the delay of flower bud differentia-tion,the increase of inflorescence number and the change of tiller ability of inflorescence.The initial flowering stage was delayed by 12 days,the flowering time of the second spike was delayed by 8 days,and the flowering time of the third spike was delayed by 4 days,which mainly affected the number of the first inflorescence.Sub-low temperature stress affected flower bud differentiation and inflorescence formation of cherry tomato.