The Effect of Temperature and Precipitation Conditions on the Growth and Development Dynamics of Five Cultivars of Processing Tomato

Cultivation of field tomato in Poland meets unfavorable temperature and precipitation conditions, which affect yield and quality. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of temperature and precipitation conditions on the growth and development dynamics of five cultivars of processing tomato. The analysis took into account the key morphological characteristics of the plant, the inflorescence and fruit, which determine the suitability of the cultivar for processing. Analysis of the effect of meteorological elements on the stem development showed that stem length was most strongly influenced by precipitation – both total precipitation and frequency, rather than by temperature; the greater the rainfall, the more intensive stem elongation. High levels of precipitation limited gains in stem thickness. The number of flowers and fruits formed per inflorescence was negatively correlated with temperature. Excessive precipitation during the entire growing period led to formation of smaller fruits. The length and width of the fruit were negatively correlated with the frequency of precipitation in all stages, and with total precipitation during the period from planting to setting of the first fruits. A beneficial effect of temperature on the length and width of the fruit was noted during the entire growing period. The tomato fruit formed a thicker pericarp when precipitation was more frequent.