This work aimed to quantify the competitive interactions and the competitiveness indexes among plants of industrial tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Heinz 9553) and nightshade (Solanum americanum). The methodology used was a replacement series experiment with a total density of 40 plants m-2 and 11 proportions, besides the monocultures in densities varying from 20 to 100 plants m-2, in intervals of 20 plants, conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results were analyzed by the conventional method of analysis of replacement series experiment and for total reciprocal production. The nightshade plant was shown to be a more aggressive competitor than the tomato, with inter-specific competition being more important for the cultivated plant. For the dry aboveground biomasses, the two species did not compete for the same natural resources. For the leaf area, the two species competed for the same growth factors, with this characteristic being the most sensitive to interference.
intraspecific competition; interspecific competition; replacement series experiment
