Al-Abbadi S.Y,(2009).
Open Pollination Efficiency on field-Grown Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)
Compared with Isolated Under Similar Condition.
Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, Vol.26 No 3. 2010

ABSTRACT: Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the most popular and widely consumed vegetables grown worldwide. The suitable summer temperature and the relative humidity encouraged the production of tomato along the year. In Jordan, this crops need different techniques to increase and develop there production. Today it seems that pollination systems in many areas of agriculture are threatened by the inadequacy or lack of sustainable agriculture management. Pollinator shortages can adversely affect crop production and commodity markets. Therefore this study aimed to evaluate the effect of natural pollination agents on tomato production parameters cultivated in open field compared with those isolated with muslin cloth without pollinator agents in similar field condition. Five rows for natural open-pollinated and five caged tomato rows were evaluated in the field. Both treatments conducted under normal Mediterranean climate conditions. Data of 15 plants were randomly selected in each row were recorded and analyzed statistically. Pollination effectiveness was compared among the treatments by using the percentage of fruit set, fruit weight, fruit size, fruit firmness and the number of seeds per fruit. Results showed that the open and naturally pollinated field-grown tomato which exposed to different pollination agents, extremely had higher fruit set percentage, which increased double of those isolated by muslin cloth. Open pollinated field-grown tomato treatment inflorescence fruits weight, number and individual fruit weight was two and half fold higher than in the isolated plants. Also, fruits size and seed number per fruits indicated a significant increasing for the open field-grown tomato compared with the isolated cultivate. Fruits were also significantly rounder and better appearance.

Keywords: Tomato, pollination, fruit set, fruit size, seed content Lycopersicon esculentum, Jordan