FLOWERING OF TOMATO IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO IN RELATION TO THE ORIGINAL POSITION OF THE AXILLARY BUD ON THE MAIN AXIS

In vitro cultured tomato seedlings were micropropagated using the sing le-node method. By periodically subculturing single nodes and shoot ti ps in vitro, tomato progeny were obtained that arose from axillary bud s (nodes) 1 (base) to 9 (top). Rooted shoots were transferred periodic ally to soil and were grown further in a greenhouse to observe floweri ng. The number of leaves preceding the first inflorescence in the vari ous groups of plants was not influenced by the original position of th e axillary buds on the main stem. Similar results were obtained in dec apitation experiments in vivo. These results indicate that axillary bu ds on the main stem of tomato plants do not differ in their flowering behaviour.