In Himachal Pradesh, tomato is grown in an area of
9.388 thousand ha, with production of 3.177 lakh metric tones,
and productivity of 33.84 metric tonnes ha-1 (Anonymous,
2006). Mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh are leading suppliers
of tomato to the plains. The crop is grown during summer
and rainy seasons in the hills, and the entire produce is sent
to markets of adjoining states. The farmers, thus, earn good
money on account of premium price, as, this crop cannot be
grown in the plains during summer months owing high
temperatures.

Performance of any crop depends upon quality of
the seed, various environmental factors, type of cultivar and
cultural practices. Among these factors, optimum age of
transplants is one that affects both growth and yield but,
generally, this factor is ignored by farmers. Optimum seedling
age depends on soil, environmental factors (temperature,
moisture), location and cultural practices. Several
investigations have been made to test the effect of transplant
age on crop performance. Yield of tomato either increased
linearly with age of transplants (3 to 6 weeks old) or was
not influenced by transplant age (Leskover et al, 1991).
Conflicting results in literature on transplant age may be
due to different environmental and cultural conditions that
plants were exposed to, both in greenhouse and in the field.

Effect of age of transplants on fruit and seed yield of tomato
(Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Y.R. Shukla, Thuktan Chhopal and Rajender Sharma
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kandaghat - 173215, India

E-mail : yrshukla@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT

Tomato is a major cash crop of the mid-hill regions of Himachal Pradesh. Among various factors that affect its
growth and yield, age of the transplant - an important factor - is generally ignored by farmers. Therefore, the present
investigation was undertaken at Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Vegetable Science, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University
of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, during the summer of 2008 and 2009 to ascertain
optimum age of transplants for maximizing fruit and seed yield in tomato var. Solan Vajr. The experiment was laid out
in RBD, with 3 replications. Age of the transplant starting with 15 days, and with subsequent gaps of 3 days each (upto
42 days, i.e., 10 stages) comprised different treatments. Among the various treatments imposed, 33-day old (middle-
aged) transplants performed best with respect to fruit and seed yield than younger or older transplants. This treatment
also gave the best results for number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per plot (kg), seed recovery (%), seed yield per plot
(g), and germination percentage.

Key words: Age of transplant, fruit and seed yield, ‘Solan Vajr’, seed recovery, germination percentage

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 8(1):99-102, 2013

Short communication

Generally, 4-6 week old transplants are recommended for
transplanting in mid-hill regions of Himachal Pradesh, but,
this is a very wide range. Exact age of transplant would,
therefore, be helpful in understanding relationship between
physiological state of the transplant, its survival in field and
growth response under various cultural systems and
environments. Hence to reduce the wide gap (4-6 weeks
after 50% germination of seed) existing in recommendation
of the age of seedlings, the present study was conducted to
ascertain optimum age of transplants for maximizing fruit
and seed yield in tomato at Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of
Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan.

The research farm is located at an elevation of 1260
metres above MSL. Geographical location of the site is
latitude 30.52° N and longitude 77.11° E which falls under
the mid-hill agro-climatic zone of Himachal Pradesh. Seeds
were sown in pro-trays on 20th February 2008. Temperature
during this period varied from 15-18°C during daytime. All
precautions were taken for raising a healthy nursery and
seedlings of the required age were transplanted. Ten
different ages of transplants (Table 1), starting with 15 day
old, with a gap of three days comprised the treatments. Days
to 50% seed germination was taken as zero day (18th day)
and successive days were counted for determining seedling



100

age. The field experiment was laid out in RBD, with three
replications whereas, germination and seedling vigour studies
were conducted in the laboratory using CRD, with four
replications following ISTA (Anonymous, 1985). The variety
used was “Solan Vajr” and was transplanted at a spacing
of 90cm x 30cm in plots of 2.7m x 2.1m size. Observations

were recorded on number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per
plot (kg), total soluble solids (°B), pericarp thickness (mm),
seed recovery (%), seed yield per plot (g), thousand seed
weight (g), germination (%), Seedling vigour index-I and
Seedling vigour index-II.

Analysis of variance showed significant differences
for characters like number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per
plot (kg), seed recovery (%), seed yield per plot (g) and
germination percentage. However, Total Soluble Solids (°B),
pericarp thickness (mm), thousand seed weight (g), Seedling
vigour index-I and Seedling vigour index-II were found to
be non-significant among different treatments (Tables 2a
& 2b).

Maximum number of fruits per plant (19.5) was
obtained in T

7
 (33 days) and minimum number of fruits

(12.99) was recorded in T
1
 (15 days). In the present findings,

middle-aged transplants produced higher number of fruits

Table 2a. Effect of age of transplants on horticultural  and seed traits in tomato

Treatment Age of the Number of Fruit yield / Fruit yield / Total Soluble Pericarp Seed
transplant (days) fruits / plant plot (kg) hectare (q) Solids (0B) thickness (mm) recovery (%)

T
1

15 12.99 14.76 260.32 3.97 5.64 0.486 (0.697)*
T

2
18 13.75 15.47 272.84 4.07 5.67 0.516 (0.719)

T
3

21 15.01 17.01 300.00 4.03 5.65 0.515 (0.718)
T

4
24 16.05 18.29 322.57 4.25 5.66 0.522 (0.723)

T
5

27 16.84 19.30 340.39 4.33 5.72 0.544 (0.737)
T

6
30 17.50 19.74 348.15 4.26 5.93 0.697 (0.835)

T
7

33 19.50 21.08 371.78 4.27 5.96 0.726 (0.852)
T

8
36 17.40 19.60 345.68 4.29 6.23 0.692 (0.832)

T
9

39 17.06 19.20 338.62 4.25 5.60 0.658 (0.811)
T

1 0
42 16.75 18.84 332.28 4.25 5.56 0.515 (0.718)

CD (P=0.05) - 0.64 0.61 60.13 NS NS 0.079
CV (%) - 2.29 1.94 10.84 - - 7.84
SEd - 0.22 0.21 20.24 - - 0.03

Table 2b. Effect of age of transplants on horticultural and seed traits in tomato

Treatment Age of the Seed yield / Thousand Seed Seedling Seedling
transplant (days) plot (g) seed weight (g) germination (%) vigour index- I vigour index- II

T
1

15 47.49 2.84     58.67 (49.98)** 0.108 619.83
T

2
18 52.83 3.02 76.67 (61.25) 0.111 724.87

T
3

21 57.84 2.97 69.33 (56.39) 0.091 755.29
T

4
24 65.84 3.08 64.00 (53.53) 0.089 767.72

T
5

27 71.42 3.12 62.00 (51.94) 0.109 669.04
T

6
30 76.98 3.06 71.33 (57.63) 0.114 613.37

T
7

33 82.22 3.17 84.67 (67.61) 0.159 913.13
T

8
36 74.48 3.07 66.67 (54.74) 0.133 627.00

T
9

39 73.93 3.03 79.00 (62.75) 0.126 742.13
T

1 0
42 72.52 3.13 70.67 (57.21) 0.119 670.05

CD (P=0.05) - 2.95 NS 7.57 NS NS
CV (%) - 56.40 - 6.28 - -
SEd - 0.99 - 2.55 - -

*Figures in parentheses represent square root transformed values
** Figures in parentheses represent arc sine transformed values
NS: Non- significant; CV:Coefficient of variation; SE

 (diff)
:Standard error of difference; CD (0.05):Critical difference at 5% level of difference

Table 1. Details of treatments imposed

Treatment Age of seedling at transplanting
(days  after 50% germination of seeds)

T
1

15
T

2
18

T
3

21
T

4
24

T
5

27
T

6
30

T
7

33
T

8
36

T
9

39
T

1 0
42

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 8(1):99-102, 2013

Shukla et al



101

than younger or older transplants. The reason seems to be
that in the case of younger seedlings, there is comparatively
lower rate of establishment because of limited storage of
foods that are needed for vegetative extension; whereas,
older shoots are mature enough and have more stored food
material and therefore, divert it to production of fruits.
However, middle-aged seedlings, on account of extended
lateral branches, produced maximum number of fruits per
plant than younger or older ones. Maximum number of fruits
by middle-aged transplants is reported by Salik et al (2000).
Contrary to this, Guo et al (1991) reported maximum number
of fruits from younger transplants, while Renuka and Perera
(2002) recorded higher number of fruits from older
transplants.

Maximum fruit yield per plant, per plot and per hectare
was recorded in T

7
 (33 days old) which showed significant

difference over the other treatments. Second best treatment
was T

6
 (30 days old) but showed non-significant differences

with T
8
 (36 days old), T

5
 (27 days old) and T

9 
(39 days old).

Minimum fruit yield was observed in T
1
 (15 days old).

Middle-aged seedlings produced maximum yield, followed
by older ones. Minimum yield was recorded with younger
seedlings. A possible reason for maximum yield in middle-
aged transplants (rather than in younger or older transplants)
seems to be that a greater number of marketable fruits was
produced per plant here. Similar differences were observed
by Cooper and Morelock (1983), Zhao Rui et al (2000) and
Salik et al (2000) who obtained maximum yield in middle-
aged transplants.

Total soluble solids (TSS) content was found to be
non-significant among different treatments. However,
highest TSS (4.33°B) was recorded in T

5
 (27 days old),

closely followed by T
8
, T

7
 and T

6
. Lowest TSS (3.97°B)

was observed in T
1
 (15 days old). Non-significant effect of

age of transplants was noticed in TSS of fruits. Similar
findings are reported by Salik et al (2000).

Pericarp thickness was found to be non-significant
among different treatments. However, maximum pericarp
thickness was obtained in T

8
 (36 days old) (6.23mm),

followed by treatments T
7
, T

6
 and T

5
. Minimum pericarp

thickness (5.56 mm) was recorded in T
10

 (42 days old).
Generally, middle-aged transplants produced fruits with
greater pericarp thickness. This might be due to the
transplants having produced higher yields and well-developed
fruits, having a thicker pericarp. This is in conformity with
findings of Salik et al (2000).

Maximum seed recovery (0.726%) observed in T
7

(33 days old)  was at par with T
6
, T

8
, and T

9
 (having seed

recovery of 0.697, 0.692 and 0.658 per cent, respectively)
and minimum seed recovery 0.486% was recorded in T

1

[at par with five other treatments, i.e., T
10

, T
3
 (21 days old),

T
2
 (18 days old),  T

4
 (24 days old) and T

5
 

 
having seed

recovery of 0.515, 0.515, 0.516, 0.522 and 0.544%
respectively]. In the present findings, middle-aged
transplants had better seed recovery in tomato than in
younger transplants. It is seen that transplants that produced
more number of fruits and higher yield, also had better %
seed recovery than younger transplants. The youngest
seedlings may had less food stored needed for vegetative
extension. Likewise, older seedlings turned mature enough,
thus limiting their vegetative extension. It seems that middle-
aged seedlings, on account of extended lateral branches,
produced maximum number of fruits per plant resulting in
higher % seed recovery.

Maximum seed yield (82.22g/plot) observed in T
7
 (33

days old) was significantly superior to that in all other
treatments. This was followed by T

6
 and T

8 
with seed yield

of 76.98g and 74.48g per plot; while, minimum value (47.49g/
plot) was observed in T

1
. However, maximum seed yield

per plot was produced by middle-aged transplants, while,
minimum by younger transplants. This may be because of
the fact that middle-aged transplants produced more number
of marketable, healthy and disease-free fruits (which,
ultimately, resulted in better seed yield). Osman and George
(1984) were also of the opinion that a greater number of
ripe fruits produced by plants of middle-aged seedlings were
responsible for higher seed yield.

Germination percentage was found to be significant
among different treatments. Maximum seed germination
(84.67%) was recorded in seeds of treatment T

7
 (33 days

old). Minimum seed germination (58.67%) was recorded in
T

1
. In general, maximum germination was recorded using

middle-aged transplants than younger or older ones. It
appears that plants developed from middle-aged seedlings
could establish well early in the season, produced vigorous
plants that yielded higher number of good-sized fruits with
better seed yield, better test weight and, ultimately, good
germination; while, younger transplants may have stored
less food needed for vegetative extension, thereby producing
non-vigorous plants having low yield and poor quality seeds.
Almost similar results were reported by Salik et al (2000).
In general, germination was low in all the treatments as
seeds were raised in summer rather than in the rainy season.

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 8(1):99-102, 2013

Age of transplants and fruit/seed yield in tomato



102

Both Seedling vigour index-I and II were found to be
non-significant among different treatments. However,
maximum Seedling vigour index-I was obtained in T

7
 (33

days old) (0.159), closely followed by T
8
, T

9
 and T

10
.

Minimum Seedling vigour index-I (0.089) was recorded in
T

4
 (24 days old). Maximum seedling vigour index-II (913.13)

was recorded in T
7
 (33 days old), closely followed by T

4
, T

3

and T
9
; whereas, minimum Seedling vigour index-II (613.37)

was recorded in T
6
.

The present results may hold good for summer or
early crop, but not for the rainy season crop, as, in the rainy
season, nursery is raised during June-July and temperature
during this period is generally high compared to that in
February (summer or early crop). Hence, rate and speed
of germination is likely to be high. Consequently, seedling
growth is also higher at high temperature. As a result,
seedlings are ready for transplanting quite early, than at low
temperature. It can, thus, be concluded that seed emergence
and seedling growth is correlated with temperature and other
environmental factors rather than the month or season of
cropping.

REFERENCES

Anonymous. 1985. International rules for seed testing. Seed
science and technology. 13: 293-353

Anonymous. 2006. Annual Report. Department of

Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla-171005, H.P.
Cooper, P.E. and Morelock, T.E. 1983. Effect of transplant

age on earliness, total yield and fruit weight of tomato.
Arkanas Farm Res., 32:6

Guo, F., Fujime, Y., Hirose, T. and Kato, T. 1991. Effects of
the number of training shoots, raising period of
seedlings and planting density on growth, fruiting and
yield of sweet pepper. J. Japanese Soc. Hortl. Sci.,
59:763-770

Leskovar, D.I., Cantliffe, D.J. and Stoffella, P.J. 1991.
Growth and yield of tomato plants in response to age
of transplants. J. Amer. Soc. Hortl. Sci., 116:416-
420

Osman, O.A. and George, R.A.T. 1984. Effect of mineral
nutrition and fruit position on seed yield and quality
of sweet pepper (Capsicun annuum L.). Acta Hort.,
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Renuka, K.A. and Perera, K.D.A. 2002. Effect of seedling
age and its management on growth and yield of chilli.
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of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) grown
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Zhao-Rui, Jian Ma and Fei Li. 2000. Study on age of tomato
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(MS Received 08 May 2012, Accepted 10 September 2012, Revised 08 October 2012)

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 8(1):99-102, 2013

Shukla et al