Growth and Photosynthetic Pigment Accumulation in <i>Lycopersicum esculentum</i> Mill. in Response to Light and Nutrient Stress

Abstract

This study aimed at determining the responses of some of the growth parameters of Lycopersicum esculentum to light and nutrient stress. The focus is equally orientated in determining the effect of light and nutrient stress on the photosynthetic pigment accumulation in plants. Tomato seeds were grown in pretreated sand and were watered with distilled water until the experimental culture was fully established. After this, the plants were transplanted into 60 plastic pots, with holes bored at the bottom to allow proper drainage of the excess water during the course of the experiment. The plants were divided into four groups of fifteen pots each. A group of plants was submitted to stress of nutrient lack by only administering 100 ml of complete nutrient solution, once every four days. The nutrient solution if applied daily was considered to be adequate for the plants. Another group of plants was lightly stressed, by placing them under shade, while adequate light was gotten in direct sunlight. Sampling was carried out at weekly intervals, starting from the seventh day after the first treatment. Plants were randomly picked from each of the four treatments. Three replicates were used for each parameter. The results showed that there was a reduction in photosynthetic pigment accumulation in the plants when both light and nutrient were limited. The data obtained from the study were first tested between normality and assumption of constant variance. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out considering both factors (light and nutrient ) as source's of variation to investigate the effects of full light and full nutrient (FLFN ), full light and partial nutrient (FLPN), partial light and full nutrient (PLFN) and partial light and partial nutrient (PLPN) the parameters studied in Lycopersicum esculentum.