Morpho-physiological traits associated with leaf senescence at peak fruiting stage in tomato under water deficit condition

Abstract

Leaf senescence is a crucial trait in crop improvement programme. Utilization of this trait in breeding work has immense importance. The present investigation was undertaken in tomato genotypes to study variation and association of leaf traits with leaf senescence in tomato. Twenty five tomato genotypes were evaluated in CRD with two replications. Plants were grown in pot under limited water supply condition. Water supply was restricted starting from peak flowering stage to peak fruiting stage. Observations were recorded on leaf traits like number of green leaves per plant, green leaf area, chlorophyll content, leaf water retention capacity (WRC), relative water content of leaf (RWC), water saturation deficit (WSD), leaf moisture content (LMC) along with fruit yield per plant. Leaf senescence was expressed in terms of senescence index. At peak fruiting stage, leaf senescence index had significant negative correlation with chlorophyll a & total chlorophyll content. The physiological traits like WRC and RWC had negative correlation with SI parameter but WSD and LMC had positive correlation with SI. The genetic variation present in the genotypes in respect of leaf senescence traits could be exploited to identify tomato genotypes with delayed leaf senescence.