This experiment was carried out to study the effect of three spacings between plants and three pruning systems in the production of tomatoes, Italian class (saladete), for in natura use. Statistical procedure was based on randomized blocks with three replications, in a factorial scheme. Hybrid cultivars Heinz 9780 and Katia were planted in whole plots and the combination of three spacings between plants (20; 35 and 50 cm) and three pruning systems resulting in 2; 4, and 8 fruit clusters per plant, were assigned to the subplots. Plants grew without guiding. Total and commercial yield increased with plant density and with the number of fruit clusters, with significant interaction between these two variables. Total and marketable fruit yield reached their peak (202,6 and 165,9 t ha-1, respectively) with 20-cm spacing between plants and eight clusters. Hybrid Katia suffered a significant reduction in the number of fruits plant-1 when spacing between plants was reduced from 50 to 35 cm. The average weight of fruits was reduced when spacing between plants was bellow 35 cm for hybrid Heinz 9780 and bellow 20 cm for hybrid Katia, and increased as a result of pruning of plants after second cluster in 54,0% for hybrid Keinz 9780 and 48,6% for hybrid Katia. The average fruit weight can be increased with spacing between plants of 50 cm for hybrid Heinz 9780, and 35 or 50 cm for hybrid Katia and pruning after two or four fruit clusters. The hybrids performed adequately considering production of tomato for in natura consumption, with big enough fruits for market requirements.
Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.; plant spacing; number of fruit clusters; average fruit weight
