The effect of top-shoot and floral cluster pruning on the production and flavor of the tomato fruits were experimentally evaluated (May to November of 2002). The experimental design was of randomized blocks, with five treatments, seven replications, and eight-plant plots. Seedlings from cultivar Kindyo of indeterminate growth habit, were used. Treatments were: (A) pruning of the 1st floral cluster and top-shoot pruning above the 7th floral cluster; (B) same as A, but without top-shoot pruning and with pruning of the floral clusters above the 7th cluster; (C) without pruning the 1st floral cluster, but with top-shoot pruning above the 6th floral cluster; (D) same as C, but without top-shoot pruning and with pruning of floral clusters above the 6th.; (E) without top-shoot and floral cluster pruning, but evaluating only the first six floral clusters. Tomato fruits were harvested, graded and weighed in a week basis, after reaching maturity (100% red). Data were submitted to variance analysis and Tukey's test (p<0.05). Pruning of the 1st floral cluster was detrimental for commercial production of tomato fruits. The preservation of plant growth in combination with pruning of floral cluster above the sixth, without pruning the first floral cluster (treatment D), significantly increased the production of large fruits (101.5 t ha-1) in relation to the other treatments (treatment A: 74.9; B: 71.4; C: 80.3; E: 78.9 t ha-1). However, for commercial production, treatment D (127.7 t ha-1) significantly differed only from treatments A and B (106.6 and 99.4 t ha-1, respectively). For total production, flavor, ºBrix, and pH, whose averages were respectively 149.4 t ha-1; 13; 4,32%, and 4,34, there were no significant differences.
Lycopersicon esculentum; conduction systems; production; gradetion; ºBrix; pH
