Bio-efficacy and Phytotoxicity Analysis of SV FRUITER for Tomato Production

Abstract

Aims: The present study evaluates the bio-efficacy of the new Biostimulant SV FRUITER on the growth, yield and quality of tomato and to determine its possible unintended effects (Phytotoxicity) on the crop. ​ Study Design: Field experiment, randomized design with five treatments including an untreated control. Place and Duration of Study: Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station (ZAHRS), Navile, Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (KSNUAHS), Shivamogga, Karnataka, India, from December 2023 to May 2024. Methodology: The study was conducted on the tomato hybrid ‘Arka Rakshak’, which is high yielding and resistant to multiple diseases. Four soil-applied doses of SV FRUITER (50, 100, 150 and 200 kg per acre) and an untreated control were evaluated. SV FRUITER was applied once as a soil application at 20-25 days after transplanting (DAT). Morphological parameters (plant height, number of branches, leaf area and leaf area index), physiological parameters (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content) and yield attributes (fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant and fruit yield per hectare) were recorded. Chlorophyll content was estimated by the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) method and data were analysed statistically at P = 0.05. Phytotoxicity was visually assessed on a 0-100 scale for symptoms such as wilting, chlorosis, necrosis and epinasty/hyponasty. Results: SV FRUITER significantly increased leaf area and leaf area index at 60 and 90 DAT, with highest values at 200 kg per acre (T4). Total chlorophyll was higher in treated plots at 30 and 90 DAT. T4 produced maximum fruits per plant (53.0) and yield (63.09 tonnes per hectare; 15.68% over control). No phytotoxicity observed. Conclusion: SV FRUITER at 200 kg per acre is highly effective and safe for tomato, recommended with fertilizers. Conclusion: Non-invasive independent predictors for screening esophageal varices may decrease medical as well as financial burden, hence improving the management of cirrhotic patients. These predictors, however, need further work to validate reliability.