Abstract

A foliar application of Atonik (250, 500 and 1000 ppm) and benzyl adenine (25, 50 and 100 ppm) under vernalization was investigated on Solanum lycopersicum (var. Beto 86) plant. All determined growth parameters (root length, root fresh and weights, shoot length, number of leaves, number of nodes, total leaf area, shoot fresh and dry weights and relative water content) were inhibited in response to treatment with vernalization. Meanwhile vernalization in combination with varying concentration of Atonik or benzyl adenine (BA) led to a general significant increase in these parameters. Vernalization alone or in combination with Atonik or benzyl adenine accelerated flowering especially in response to 1000 ppm Atonik or 50 ppm BA under vernalization treatment. Vernalization treatment significantly increased the concentration of chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids and consequently total pigments. While chlorophyll a/b is insignificantly affected. In general, vernalization and different concentrations of Atonik or BA led to a massive increase in these pigments. Glucose, sucrose, polysaccharides, ammonia, amino and soluble as well as total nitrogen and protein were increased in tomato plants under the influence of vernalization alone or in combination with Atonik or BA. Moreover, a general significant increase in the content of K⁺, Na⁺ and Ca⁺⁺, were detected in both tomato root and shoot as a result of treatments. Vernalization caused a significant decrease in total auxins, gibberellic acid and different cytokinin fractions in the shoot of tomato plants, whereas abscisic acid increased significantly by this treatment. At vernalization, all concentrations of Atonik or BA reverse this situation as compared with control values.

Key words: Atonik, benzyl adenine, Solanum lycopersicum, vernalization.