Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) is one of the most important and largely cultivated vegetable crops. It occupies a pre-eminent position among vegetables for its high nutrient content. Lately, greater emphasis is laid on organic production of vegetables. Growth regulators and foliar nutrient sprays are used for increased flower production, retention and higher yield in tomato. When foliar nutrition is applied, lower quantities of fertilizers are needed compared to nutrient application through soil. Foliar nutrition also reduces fixation or leaching of nutrients. One of the most significant benefits of using foliar feeding is that it is less expensive than many other means for boosting plant growth. These days, major nutrients (N, P and K) are applied to vegetable crops through foliar sprays (Chaurasia et al, 2005). The ultimate goal of foliar nutrition is to supply the plant with the right amount of nutrients. Panchakavya is a formulation prepared from products obtained from the cow and consists of dung, urine, milk, curd and ghee. Physio-chemical properties of panchakavya reveal that it contains almost all the major nutrients, micronutrients and growth harmones such as IAA and GA. It also possesses aromatic compounds like phenyl acetic acid and benzoic acid, products that have a definite role in plant metabolism (Vadivel, 2006). J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 8(1):107-110, 2013 Short communication Effect of biostimulants on yield and quality in tomato T. Saraswathi and S. Praneetha Department of Vegetable Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641003, India E-mail : sarasvel_t@yahoo.co.in ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to study comparative efficacy of growth regulators and panchakavya on growth, yield and biochemical constitution of tomato. It is well known that panchakavya plays a vital role in organic cultivation. Hence, the present experiment was laid out to determine the effect of this biostimulant on yield and quality in tomato. Recommended dose of fertilizers recorded highest yield. Next best results were obtained by combined spray of panchakavya (3%) + salicylic acid (100ppm) + nitrobenzene (150ppm); panchakavya (3%) alone and panchakavya (3%) + salicylic acid (100ppm). Results also revealed comparable performance of panchakavya over salicylic acid and nitrobenzene indicating, that, panchakavya can be utilized as an organic component to increase yield in tomato. Key words: Tomato, panchakavya, salicyclic acid, nitrobenzene A field trial was conducted at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The experimental farm is situated in South Western region of Tamil Nadu at 11°N latitude and 77°E longitude at an altitude of 426.6m above MSL. Present study was conducted with the main objective of assessing the effect of bio-stimulants and growth regulators on yield and quality of tomato variety PKM 1. Soil in the experimental field was well-drained, sandy clay-loam in texture, with pH 6.5 and EC 0.206dsm-1. Soil nutrient status was checked and recommended dose of fertilizers was applied. Experimental design and layout The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with twelve treatments and was replicated thrice. Details of treatments are given below 1. Panchakavya (3%) seed treatment 2. Panchakavya (3%) seedling dip 3. Panchakavya (3%) root drench 4. Panchakavya (3%) foliar spray 5. Nitrobenzene (150ppm) foliar spray 6. Salicylic acid (100ppm) foliar spray 7. Nitrobenzene (150ppm) + Panchakavya (3%) foliar spray 108 Saraswathi and Praneetha 8. Salicylic acid (100ppm) + Panchakavya (3%) foliar spray 9. Nitrobenzene (150ppm) + Salicylic acid (100ppm) foliar spray 10. Nitrobenzene (150ppm) + Salicylic acid (100ppm) + Panchakavya (3%) foliar spray 11. Farm yard manure @ 25t/ha 12. Recommended fertilizer dose (150:100:100kg NPK/ha) Seeds were soaked in Panchakavya 3% for an hour, shade-dried and then sown in the nursery. Root dip with Panchakavya (3%) was done just before transplanting the seedlings. Root drench (50ml/plant) with Panchakavya (3%) was done on the same day after planting. All the foliar sprays were given twice (once each before and after flowering). Farm yard manure @ 25t/ha was applied as basal dose at the time of last ploughing. The above treatments were imposed with no application of synthetic fertilizers. Recommended dose of fertilizer (150:100:100kg of NPK/ha) was applied at half of N and full dose of P and K as basal dose, and the remaining half of N was top-dressed on 30th day after planting. Morphological observations were recorded on plant height, number of branches, days taken for 50% flowering, number of fruits per cluster, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, yield per plant and estimated yield per hectare. Chlorophyll content was estimated as per Yoshida et al (1971), carbohydrate content was estimated by the procedure suggested by Sadasivam and Manickam (1996) and soluble protein was estimated by Lowry’s method (Lowry et al, 1951). Results (Table 1) of the present study revealed that spraying panchakavya (3%) + salicylic acid (100ppm) and nitrobenzene (150ppm); and panchakavya (3%) alone recorded maximum plant height (80.36cm and 78.63cm respectively). Maximum number of branches per plant (9.33) was recorded both in spray of panchakavya (3%) + salicylic acid (100ppm) + nitrobenzene (150ppm), and panchakavya (3%) + nitrobenzene (150ppm) and was on par with recommended fertilizer dose (150:100:100kg NPK/ ha) (8.99), salicylic acid (100ppm) + nitrobenzene (150ppm) spray (8.44), and panchakavya (3%) spray (8.21). In addition, nutrients in urine are readily soluble and are in a liquid form which allow them to be taken up by the plant at once (Sharma, 1998). Salicylic acid, a phenolic compound, is known to prevent auxin oxidation (Schneider and Whiteman, 1974). Salicylic acid spray may have increased the level of auxin which, in turn, could have increased plant height. Nitrobenzene also has a synergistic effect with auxin which may have also caused increased N. Due to increased level of auxin in the growing tip, plant height may have increased. The same observation has been recorded in okra too (Savitha, 2004). Days taken for 50% flowering was significantly influenced by various treatments. Earliest flowering was observed with foliar application of panchakavya (3%) alone (37.33 days), and was on par with nitrobenzene (150ppm) spray (38.00 days), panchakavya (3%) + salicylic acid (100ppm) + nitrobenzene (150ppm) spray (38.00 days), Table 1. Effect of biostimulants and growth regulators on yield and quality in tomato Treatment Plant No. of Days No of Single Yield/ Yield Total Carbo- Soluble height branches taken for fruits/ fruit plant (t/ha) chlorophyll hydrate protein (cm) flowering plant weight (g) (kg) (mg/g) content (mg/g) (mg/g) Seed treatment 3% PK 57.50 6.06 42.23 32.53 40.60 0.68 18.18 0.34 1.79 15.60 Seedling3% PK 67.43 6.86 40.66 29.53 41.44 0.65 15.66 0.36 1.98 14.21 Root drenching3% PK 64.16 5.20 42.00 33.06 41.03 0.70 15.84 0.35 2.34 14.43 PK 3% foliar spray 78.63 8.21 37.33 37.6 42.98 0.85 22.16 0.45 2.94 17.31 Nitrobenzene150ppm 61.03 7.77 38.00 42.76 36.11 0.75 18.74 0.36 1.88 15.36 Salicylic acid 100pm 62.56 7.40 40.00 26.66 41.26 0.66 16.05 0.43 2.83 14.44 PK+NB 76.23 9.33 38.38 41.76 33.88 0.59 15.12 0.44 2.40 14.13 PK+SA 75.93 9.10 39.33 37.13 43.67 0.85 23.27 0.46 2.83 16.70 NB+SA 62.10 8.44 38.66 34.50 41.40 0.73 17.70 0.38 2.24 14.42 P+SA+NB 80.36 9.33 38.00 44.76 37.02 0.86 22.88 0.51 3.05 18.42 FYM (25t/ha) 57.46 6.77 40.66 30.13 37.04 0.60 14.30 0.36 2.22 13.71 NPK 150:100:100kg/ha 77.26 8.99 39.33 44.53 45.30 1.14 29.48 0.54 3.13 17.90 CD (P=0.05) 2.69 1.24 1.59 2.16 3.82 0.54 2.47 0.07 0.25 1.73 *Note: PK - Panchakavya; NB - Nitrobenzene; SA - Salicylic acid; FYM - Farm Yard Manure J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 8(1):107-110, 2013 109 panchakavya (3%) + nitrobenzene (150ppm) spray (38.38 days) and salicylic acid (100ppm) + nitrobenzene (150ppm) spray (38.66 days). Readily available N, P, K and growth regulators in panchakavya may have induced early flowering in tomato. Similarly, earlier flowering in rose with panchakavya (5%) spray was reported by Thamarai Selvi et al (2002). Combined spray of panchakavya (3%) + salicylic acid (100ppm) + nitrobenzene (150ppm) significantly increased number of fruits per plant (44.76), followed by application of the recommended dose of fertilizers (44.53), and nitrobenzene (150ppm) spray (42.76). Maximum number of fruits recorded in the above treatments could be due to increased level of auxin by nutrients applied thus increasing the flower production and retention. Presence of auxin in panchakavya was reported by Kanimozhi (2004). Florigenic activity of salicylic acid was demonstrated by Kumar et al (1997). Savitha (2004) reported increased number of fruits in okra with application of nitrobenzene (150ppm). Application of recommended dose of fertilizers significantly improved fruit weight. The treatment was on par with foliar application of panchakavya 3% + salicylic acid (100ppm), and foliar spray of panchakavya alone (3%). Soluble forms of nutrients are easily available in panchakavya and salicylic acid makes the plant physiologically more active, which influences fruit weight positively (Kumar et al, 1999). Fruit yield per hectare was significantly higher with application of recommended dose of fertilizers (1.14kg/ plant). Among foliar sprays, panchakavya (3%) + salicylic acid (100ppm) + nitrobenzene (150ppm) spary (0.86kg/plant), panchakavya (3%) spray (0.85kg/plant), and panchakavya (3%) + salicylic acid (100ppm) spary (0.84 kg/plant) were on par. This indicated a better effect of panchakavya over salicylic acid and nitrobenzene. Increased yield due to panchakavya was mainly due to better availability of nutrients. Total chlorophyll, carbohydrates and protein content also followed a similar trend. Regulation of stomata has been shown to be favorably influenced by bio-active substances produced by beneficial micro-organisms present in panchakavya (Kanimozhi, 2004). Favorable influence of salicylic acid in soybean was reported by Kumar et al (1999). Senthil and Kumaresan (2006) observed that soil application of Controlled Release Fertilizer (CRF) Aagroblen @ 30g m-2, plus WSF plant starter @ 2g l-1 as foliar spray significantly enhanced quality of red ripe pods of chilli, registering higher levels of capsaicin (4.26mg 100g-1), i.e., 3.9% increase over the Control. This may have been influenced by nitrogen uptake. Results in the present investigation revealed that recommended dose of fertilizers gave higher yield. The next best results were obtained with spraying panchakavya (3%) + salicylic acid (100ppm) + nitrobenzene (150ppm); panchakavya (3%) + salicylic acid (100ppm), and panchakavya (3%) alone. Total chlorophyll, carbohydrate and protein content were also higher in the above treatments. This suggests that panchakavya can be effectively sprayed to increase yield in tomato as an organic component along with recommended dose of fertilizers. REFERENCES Chaurasia, S.N.S., Singh, K.P. and Mathura Rai. 2005. Effect of foliar application of water s o l u b l e fertilizers on growth, yield, and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.). Sri Lankan J. Agril. Sci., 42:66–70 Kanimozhi, B. 2004. Effect of organic manures and biostimulants on productivity and quality of brahmi (Bacopa monniere L.). M.Sc. Thesis submitted to TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India Kumar, P., Dube, S.D., Mani, V.P. and Chauhan, V.S. 1997. Effect of salicyclic acid on flowering, pod formation and yield of pea. In: National Seminar on Plant Physiology for Sustainable Agriculture, March 19-21, IARI, New Delhi, p. 69 (Abstr.) Kumar, P., Dube, S.P. and Chauhan, V.S. 1999. Effect of salicylic acid on growth, development and s o m e biochemical aspects of soybean. Indian J. Pl. Physiol., 4:327-330 Lowry, O.H., Hosobrough, N.J., Farr, A.L. and Randall, R.J. 1951. Protein measurement with foliar phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem., 193:265-275 Sadasivam, S. and Manickam, A. 1996. Biochemical Methods. New Age International (P) Limited, New Delhi, p-1 Savitha, 2004. Determination of phytotonicity, phytotoxicity, safety and residue of nitrobenzene in okra. M.Sc. Thesis submitted to TNAU, Coimbatore, T.N., India J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 8(1):107-110, 2013 Effect of biostimulants on yield and quality in tomato 110 Schneider, E.A. and Whiteman, F. 1974. Metabolism of auxin in higher plants. Ann. Rev. Pl. Physiol., 25:487-513 Sharma, S.K. 1998. Food for Good Health. Diamond Pocket Books, New Delhi, pp. 215-218 Thamarai Selvi, S.P., Chezhiyan, N. and Raman, A. 2002. Studies on the effect of growth regulators, calcium and boron and organics on rose. South Indian Hort., 50:430-436 Vadivel, E. 2006. Panchakavya as potentiator of living plant cells: effects on crop plants and the biochemistry that validates the effects. Proceedings of National Seminar on Convergence of Technologies for Organic Horticulture, July 20-21, 2006, TNAU, Coimbatore pp. 12-22 Yoshida, S., Forno, D.A., Cook, J.H. and Gomez, K.A. 1971. Laboratory manual for physiological studies on rice. IRRI, Manila, The Philippines. p. 82 http:// www.tammac.co.za/Pastures/DungUrine.pdf (MS Received 28 June 2010, Accepted 16 November 2010, Revised 12 December 2012) J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 8(1):107-110, 2013 Saraswathi and Praneetha