Company effect on the seedling performance

Although it is known that seedling quality has a vital effect in a successful production, economic losses caused by yield and quality problems based on the seedling have going on. This study was conducted to compare growth and yield performances of tomato seedlings produced by 5 different seedling companies in greenhouse. These seedlings belong to same cultivar were grown through 8 months in the same period. Before transplanting the seedlings, stem height, and stem diameter of the seedlings were observed 9.80-17.10 cm and 2.59-3.15 mm, respectively. First bunch height (cm), plant height in 45 days (cm), stem diameter (mm) and plant height in last growth stage were also determined 33.30-49.25 cm, 84.90-100.20 cm, 11.86-14.10 mm and 267.0-298.5 cm during the growth period of tomato. Coefficient of variation (%) in the criteria related to first class fruit yield and quality between the companies was observed as 29.6% in fruit yield, 13.1% in fruit diameter, 22.9% in number of fruits per plant and 5.4% in fruit weight per plant. In conclusion, CV values were found as high for performances of seedlings. It is estimated that these differences among the seedlings can also be affected by chemical properties of the seedlings in addition to differences in physical properties of the seedlings and so these chemical properties of the seedlings should be analyzed. The tracking and evaluation processes may benefit to compare the performances among the seedling producers. Moreover, the farmers can apply better the cultural practices for the seedlings after the tracking and evaluation processes. Lastly, the further studies should be carried out to determine the standard ranges related to the performances of the seedlings in the growth stage. This situation can be valid for other vegetables