Tomato root system
Tomato is an annual plant of the Solanaceae family. In the year of sowing it forms fruits and seeds.
The root system is highly branched, due to the formation of lateral adventitious roots of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd orders, covered with numerous root hairs. The bulk of the roots are located in the soil at a depth of 30-50 cm. The stem of the tomato is erect (standard varieties) or lodging (ordinary varieties). Depending on the nature of branching of the main shoot of plants, two types of bushes are distinguished: determinate and indeterminate.
The determinate type of bush usually occurs in early and mid-ripening tomato varieties. In plants with a bush of this type, after the formation of 3-4 leaves, an inflorescence is formed on the main shoot - the 1st raceme.
The second brush is formed after 2-3 leaves (depending on the variety). Subsequent inflorescences can be formed through 1 leaf, and the last 2-3 brushes are formed in a row and the growth of the main stem ends.
The inflorescence limits (determines) the growth of the main shoot. In the axil of each leaf, buds develop, from which stepsons are subsequently formed. Depending on the variety, the main shoot of plants of determinate varieties is low or medium-sized, reaching 30-65 cm in height.
From 2-3 to 4-5 inflorescences are formed on it. In plants of indeterminate varieties, the first inflorescence is formed above the 9-12th leaf; subsequent ones - every 3, sometimes 4 sheets. Under favorable conditions, new inflorescences are formed continuously; the plant stem can reach 1–5 m in height. This type of bush is typical for late-ripening tomato varieties.
They have a huge potential for the formation of stepsons, since in each leaf axil a vegetative bud quickly develops and matures. The leaves are intermittently pinnately dissected, with a very short petiole, passing into the main vein of the leaf. The leaf blade is expanded and deeply dissected into lobes of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd order. The edges of the leaf lobes can be entire or serrated.
Topping
To accelerate the development of the root system and, accordingly, quickly obtain a harvest, two methods are used - pinching and pinching. When using such agrotechnical technique as pinching, the growth of the main shoot is artificially limited.
It is worth noting that the top of the shoot should be pinched (removed) only after the upper flowers of the plant have opened. After pinching, one or two leaves should be left above the inflorescence itself, as they supply the tomato fruit with nutrients. It is also necessary to treat the plant with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to reduce the risk of infection with various infections.
The stem of a tomato forms roots during any period of its growth. Therefore, during the active stage, it is recommended to sprinkle the lower part of the plant with nutrient-rich soil. Thanks to this, the area of the root system will increase, and it will become similar to a fibrous one, but will not actually be one.
Biological features of tomatoes
Tomato is an annual plant of the Solanaceae family. In the year of sowing it forms fruits and seeds. The root system is highly branched, due to the formation of lateral adventitious roots of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd orders, covered with numerous root hairs.
The bulk of the roots are located in the soil at a depth of 30-50 cm. The stem of the tomato is erect (standard varieties) or lodging (ordinary varieties). Depending on the nature of branching of the main shoot of plants, two types of bushes are distinguished: determinate and indeterminate.
The determinate type of bush usually occurs in early and mid-ripening tomato varieties. In plants with a bush of this type, after the formation of 3-4 leaves, an inflorescence is formed on the main shoot - the 1st raceme.
The second brush is formed after 2-3 leaves (depending on the variety). Subsequent inflorescences can be formed through 1 leaf, and the last 2-3 brushes are formed in a row and the growth of the main stem ends. The inflorescence limits (determines) the growth of the main shoot. In the axil of each leaf, buds develop, from which stepsons are subsequently formed. Depending on the variety, the main shoot of plants of determinate varieties is low or medium-sized, reaching 30-65 cm in height.
From 2-3 to 4-5 inflorescences are formed on it. In plants of indeterminate varieties, the first inflorescence is formed above the 9-12th leaf; subsequent ones - every 3, sometimes 4 sheets.
Under favorable conditions, new inflorescences are formed continuously; the plant stem can reach 1–5 m in height. This type of bush is typical for late-ripening tomato varieties. They have a huge potential for the formation of stepsons, since in each leaf axil a vegetative bud quickly develops and matures.
The leaves are intermittently pinnately dissected, with a very short petiole, passing into the main vein of the leaf. The leaf blade is expanded and deeply dissected into lobes of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd order.
The edges of the leaf lobes can be entire or serrated.
The tomato has a highly developed tap-type root system. The roots are branched, grow and form quickly. They go into the ground to a great depth (with seedless culture up to 1 m or more), spreading in diameter by 1.5-2.5 m.
In the presence of moisture and nutrition, additional roots can form on any part of the stem, so tomatoes can be propagated not only by seeds, but also by cuttings and side shoots (stepchildren). Placed in water, they form roots within a few days.
The stem of a tomato is erect or lodging, branching, with a height of 30 cm to 2 m or more. The leaves are imparipinnate, dissected into large lobes, sometimes potato-type.
The flowers are small, inconspicuous, yellow of various shades, collected in a brush. The tomato is a facultative self-pollinator: one flower contains male and female organs.
The fruits are juicy multi-locular berries of various shapes (from flat-round to cylindrical; they can be small (weight up to 50 g), medium (51-100 g) and large (over 100 g, sometimes up to 800 g or more).
The color of the fruits ranges from pale pink to bright red and crimson, from white, light green, light yellow to golden yellow.
The seeds are small, flat, pointed at the base, light or dark yellow, usually pubescent, as a result of which they have a gray tint. They become physiologically mature already in green, formed fruits. Germination remains for 6-8 years.
Under favorable temperature conditions and the presence of moisture, seeds germinate in 3-4 days.
The first true leaf usually appears 6-10 days after germination, the next 3-4 leaves - after another 5-6 days, then each new leaf is formed after 3-5 days. Starting from a young age, side shoots (stepchildren) grow in the axils of the leaves. The duration of the period from germination to flowering of the plant is 50-70 days, from flowering to fruit ripening 45-60 days.
Based on the structure of the bush, the thickness of the stem and the nature of the leaves, 3 varieties of tomatoes are distinguished: non-standard, standard, potato.
Typically, the leaf surface area of plants of determinate varieties is less than that of plants of indeterminate varieties.
Side branches (stepchildren) are formed in the axils of the leaves.
The stepsons located directly under the inflorescences appear earlier and develop most strongly.
The flowers are yellow, collected in simple or more complex (branched) inflorescences, bisexual (hermaphroditic).
Depending on the variety, fruits vary greatly in size, shape and number of chambers. The most important varieties are those that produce smooth red fruits.
The seeds are small (about 300-350 per 1 g), whitish-creamish or grayish, covered with whitish hairs. Depending on the variety, from 25-30 to 300-350 seeds are formed in one fruit. Fruits of large-fruited varieties usually contain fewer seeds than fruits of small-fruited varieties. Seed germination persists for 4-5 years.
Humidity
The tomato is an average moisture-demanding and relatively drought-resistant crop.
However, it requires increased soil moisture (approximately 70...80%), but at the same time relatively low air humidity of about 60%.
During the fruiting period, air humidity is needed within 65...70%. Changes in soil moisture impair the growth of the root system and the flow of nutrients into the plant, leading to disease.
Uneven supply of moisture leads to cracking of fruits and falling of flowers.
Particular care must be taken to provide plants with air. If there is a lack of air in the soil, the seeds germinate slowly, the roots stop growing, and the normal nutrition process is disrupted.
This requirement obliges the vegetable grower to use soil with a good lumpy structure for growing tomatoes (especially seedlings).
With insufficient moisture, accelerated ripening of set fruits is observed with mass falling of new flowers and ovaries. A plant, experiencing stress, strives to reproduce seeds and gets rid of reproductive parts that compete in nutrient consumption.
Light
Tomato is a light-demanding crop.
The brighter and more intense the light, the faster the harvest is formed. With a lack of lighting, the assimilation process sharply decreases, plant growth is weakened, and development is delayed.
Prolonged cloudy weather extends the period from flowering to fruit ripening by 10...15 days, worsening their taste and marketability. Most varieties of southern origin are short-day plants, while those of northern origin are day-neutral or long-day plants.
Soil microelements
However, the best results are obtained by tomato culture on well-warmed fertile soils, chernozems rich in organic matter and floodplains that are not flooded or early cleared of hollow water with a pH of about 6.0 (5.5...6.5).
Good tomato yields can also be obtained on sandy and loamy soils by applying the necessary fertilizers and maintaining the soil in a loose state.
Tomato responds well to both mineral and organic fertilizers. On cultivated soils, it can give a high yield when only mineral fertilizers are applied, and on low-fertility, low-humus soils, a combination of mineral and organic fertilizers is advisable. Among organic fertilizers, humus, manure (preferably in autumn), peat manure composts, slurry, and bird droppings are applied to tomatoes.
Of the mineral nutrition elements, tomato consumes more potassium and nitrogen.
However, it is very responsive to phosphorus fertilizers, without which it is difficult to obtain high yields and good quality fruits.
Tomatoes take a lot of nutrients out of the soil. In the initial period of formation of the root system, the role of phosphorus is especially great. Therefore, at a young age, plants most need fertilizing with phosphorus fertilizers.
Subsequently, when the process of fruit formation begins, phosphorus, together with potassium, helps accelerate flowering, fruit ripening and increase the plant’s resistance to disease.
In tomato plants it is of the rod type. However, when grown in seedlings, tomatoes form a predominantly fibrous root system. As a result, with seedling culture, a highly branched root system is formed, lying mainly at a depth of 40-100 cm.
Tomatoes without seedlings are resistant to drought, although they produce higher yields when irrigated.
Roots can also form on the subcotyledon, which is why deepening the subcotyledon into the soil during picking is effective.
When plants are hilled, as well as when they come into contact with the soil under conditions of high humidity, roots also form on the stems.
Formation from seeds
The tomato root system is formed from the seeds, which are small in size and gray-yellow in color. Seeds remain viable for up to eight years. Physiologically, they become fully mature while still inside the fetus. Under favorable conditions, a comfortable temperature and sufficient light supply, the seeds can produce their first shoots in three to four days. The first leaf is formed approximately a week after the first shoots, and, after another six or seven days, up to ten leaf blades develop.
On average, it takes about six days for the development of one true leaf. After a few weeks, side shoots, the so-called stepsons, grow. The growth period from planting to the beginning of fruiting is about 70 days, taking into account the early ripening of the varieties.
It should be noted that not all tomato seeds have the ability to germinate equally in all regions, so it is necessary to select seed material very carefully.
Tomato stems
They are herbaceous and become woody with age.
Most plants have an ordinary lodging stem. Such tomatoes are best cultivated using supports. Amateur vegetable growers also grow varieties with standard stems (Volgogradsky 5/95, Alpatieva 905-a, etc.).
The stem of these plants quickly becomes woody and lies down only in some cases during the formation of fruits. When growing varieties with standard stems, there is no need to install supports.
Different varieties of tomatoes have stems that branch differently. In some, the main stem quickly finishes growing, forming a flower cluster at the top. On plants of the earliest ripening varieties there are only two racemes on the main stem. Such varieties with limited growth are called determinate. Side shoots (stepchildren) also very quickly stop growing by forming a flower cluster at the top.
Therefore, plants of determinate varieties are small in size: from dwarf to stunted.
Amateur vegetable growers also grow tomatoes with unlimited growth.
Such varieties are called indeterminate. The length of the stems of many indeterminate varieties, even in the open ground of the middle zone, reaches 2-3 m or more. The tallest varieties (De Barao, Miracle of the World, etc.) are called liana-like. Plants of indeterminate varieties form lateral shoots in large numbers.
Indeterminate varieties are mainly used for winter greenhouses, where they form stems up to 10-12 m high over the course of a year. In greenhouses, tomatoes are formed, as a rule, into one stem.
In open ground, depending on the heat supply, they are grown in one, two, or three stems; in the southern regions, indeterminate tomato varieties are often grown without pinching, since during a long growing season all the fruits have time to ripen.
Formation
Having considered the types of roots and types of root systems, it is necessary to pay attention to their formation. In relation to roots, certain effects are often used to accelerate the development and growth of the plant.
You need to know that if the main root of a tomato is damaged, it will stop growing vertically and will begin to form a large number of lateral and adventitious shoots. Most often, they are located in the fertile soil layer, which is why they absorb nutrients and water from the soil faster than usual.
For the correct formation of the root system of tomatoes, it is also necessary to pay close attention to the soil itself, especially if the plants are grown in a greenhouse.
Tomato leaves
In tomato plants they are alternate, cut into lobes, segments and lobules.
The surface of the leaves is pubescent, expressed differently in different varieties. Each variety of cultivated tomato is characterized by a special type (structure) of leaves. In ordinary tomatoes they are smooth or slightly corrugated, mostly green in color (rarely light green).
The surface of the leaves of standard tomatoes is highly corrugated (sometimes wrinkled), usually dark green. Large-leaved tomatoes are characterized by leaves with large lobes (often with the absence of lobes and lobules).
Tomato flowers
They are bisexual, that is, each flower contains both female (pistil) and male (stamen) organs.
This promotes self-pollination of flowers. In wild and semi-cultivated forms, the flowers are five-membered, consisting of five sepals, five petals, and five stamens. Such flowers usually produce small fruits.
Large-fruited varieties (various giants) are characterized by more complex flowers - polynomial. In many varieties, the first flower in the raceme is fasciated - fused from two to three flowers.
It produces a large but ugly fruit. Such flowers are removed.
The flowers are collected in brushes (curl). In most cultivated varieties, the racemes are simple (non-branching) or intermediate - once branched. Amateur vegetable growers also have varieties with a complex raceme - up to 100 flowers (Wonder of the World, Kronprinz, etc.).
In this case, 30-40 small fruits are formed in each cluster.
The anthers of the stamens contain pollen. Once on the stigma of the pistil, it germinates in the style and fuses with the eggs in the embryo sac.
As a result, zygotes are formed, which then turn into seeds. This is fertilization. Tomatoes, as a result of self-pollination, produce pure-quality seeds. Cross-pollination occurs in exceptional cases, for example in the south (where an open type of flowering is observed in high temperatures) or in greenhouses, where tomatoes of different varieties grow nearby and their stems are located on top of each other. In this case, pollen of one variety, falling out of flowers, falls on flowers of another variety located below.
Some varieties (Severyanin and others) form the first fruits without fertilization. They are seedless and fleshy. At the end of the season, normal fruits with seeds are formed on the plants, which are used for propagation. Tomato pollen is heavy, so it is carried by the wind over a distance of no more than 0.5 m.
Insects, with rare exceptions, do not visit tomato flowers.
Stepsoning
This is an agrotechnical technique in which side shoots, called stepsons, are removed. The need for stepsoning is due to a number of reasons.
- Firstly, due to the fact that the tomato is a heat-loving crop, as it comes from South America. In this regard, it is necessary to regulate the load on the bush so that it can develop well, taking into account our climatic conditions.
- Secondly, in the presence of a large number of “stepchildren”, and as a result of which leaves, the root system is not able to provide the upper part of the plant with a sufficient amount of nutrition for development. For this reason, some leaves turn yellow and die earlier than expected.
- Thirdly, a large number of leaves thickens the entire planting. For this reason, the plant receives less light, air and heat, which leads to a decrease in the level of development, and in some cases to disease and death.
It is for these reasons that tomatoes are planted, which gives the plant good growth and development, as well as a rich harvest.
Tomatoes are a very popular, healthy and tasty product. Thanks to his wonderful qualities, people like him so much. Today it is difficult to imagine a holiday table without a tomato salad or a second course with a sauce made using tomato. This vegetable is deservedly popular, delighting people with its excellent taste.
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