TRANSPLANT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS INFLUENCE GROWTH AND YIELD OF FRESH-MARKET TOMATOES

'Sunny' tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) containerized transplan ts were grown with the standard or conventional systems (SS) and with recently developed flotation systems (FS). Standard system and FS tran splants, and direct-seeding using coated seeds were evaluated in the f ield for root and shoot growth and yield at Parrish, Bradenton, and Na ples during fall, winter, and spring plantings. Plant growth character istics were measured weekly before, during, and after transplanting or sowing. In the Parrish and Bradenton Fall 1987 and Bradenton Spring 1 988 experiments, SS transplants had greater leaf area, root volume, sh oot dry weights, and shoot : root ratios than FS transplants. During e arly development, the FS transplants had more lateral root growth than SS transplants, but had similar total root growth and horizontal and vertical root distribution after transplanting in the field. Transplan ts and direct-seeded plants allocated 72% of the total root mass in th e upper 0 to 10 cm of the soil. In Fall 1987, SS transplants had betwe en 29% and 41% more fruit yield than FS transplants at Bradenton and P arrish, respectively. In the Naples Winter 1988 and Parrish and Braden ton Fall 1989 experiments, both transplant types had similar fruit yie lds, but more than direct-seeded plants. Transplants grown with the fl otation system are recommended for use provided that seedlings are gro wn and maintained with minimum hardening before establishment in the f ield.