Effect of Foliar Application with Salicylic Acid and Methyl Jasmonate on Growth, Flowering, Yield and Fruit Quality of Tomato

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate as preharvest treatments on the tomato vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality. The experiment was completely randomized experimental design with four replications. These factors included salicylic acid in 2 levels (0.5 and 0.75 mmolL-1) and methyl jasmonate in 3 levels (0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 mmolL-1) applied on tomato. Results indicated that salicylic acid (0. 5 mmolL-1) and methyl jasmonate (0.25 mmolL-1) either alone or in combination (0.5 mmolL-1 SA+ 0.25 mmolL-1 MJ) increased vegetative and reproductive growth, yield and chlorophyll content. The application of salicylic acid (0. 5 mmolL-1) alone significantly increased the leaves-NK content and dry weight and decreased the incidence of blossom end rot, but methyl jasmonate application alone or in combination had not significant effect on blossom end rot and leaves -NK content. The TSS, TA and vitamin C content of tomato fruit had significantly affected by the application of salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate either alone or in combination(0.5 mmolL-1 SA+ 0.25 mmolL-1 MJ). Application of salicylic acid with methyl jasmonate improved the yield contributing factors that resulted in significant increase in tomato fruit yield.