Performance of tomato cultivars transplanted on various dates under the agro-climatic conditions of district Buner

The performance of tomato cultivars transplanted on various dates under the agro-climatic conditions of District Buner was carried out at Agricultural Research Station Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the year 2019. The treatments were arranged in split plot using RCBD which were replicated thrice. There were two factors, Factor-A was the transplantation date (13 th , 20 th , 27 th March and 03 rd April) which were subjected to the main plot and Factor-B was cultivars (Anna, Sahil and Summer Red) which were assigned to the sub plot. The data was recorded on various parameters which includes plant height, stem diameter, flowering days, branches plant -1 , days to harvesting, fruits plant -1 , fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit drop, total soluble solids, yield and disease incidence. Results showed that majority of the parameters were affected significantly by transplanting dates and cultivars. In transplantation dates the tallest plant (246.83 cm), maximum branches plant -1 (42.30), fruits plant -1 (81.50), fruit weight (128.46 g), fruit diameter (4.98 cm), yield (92.72 tons ha -1 ), least fruit drop (5.86 %) and disease incidence (2.60 %) were recorded when transplantation was practiced on 13 th March. In case of cultivars, Anna resulted in tallest plant (258.37 cm), more branches plant -1 (41.73), fruits plant -1 (80.58), fruit weight (133.43 g), fruit diameter (5.00 cm), yield (95.16 tons ha -1 ), lowest fruit drop (4.87 %) and disease incidence (2.30 %). It can be concluded that Anna cultivar transplanting on 13 th March could be followed for having better growth, higher yield and quality of tomato at the agro-climatic conditions of District Buner.


Introduction
Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) is the most common as well as extensively grown vegetable all over the world [1]. It is one of the members of Solanaceae family; this family has over 3000 species. It was originated in South America [2]. After potato, it is the second .most produced vegetable around the world [3]. In Pakistan tomatoes are grown twice in a year (summer and winter); the winter crop is restricted to frost-free areas such as Dargai [4]. Tomato is an annual plant which can reach to a height of about 2 meters [5]. Tomato is economically an important crop, the area under its cultivation is expanding day by day because tomato is a short duration crop and provides higher yield. Tomato is the main component in many diets and contains vitamins like A, C, E, and K; it has also minerals like Calcium, potassium and phosphorus [6]. Tomatoes are important in curing of several cancer types and cardiovascular diseases due to the presence of lycopene which is a leading antioxidant [7]. Tomato is consumed in many ways like sun dehydrated .tomat oes, tomato soup, tomato extract, ketchup and fresh in the form of salad [8]. Tomato's need relatively cool and dry climate, grows well in sandy loam with ideal pH of 6-6.5, for tomato cultivation 25 to 29 °C is considered as the ideal temperature [9]. In Pakistan tomato was cultivated on approximately 63203 hectares and overall production was 601098 tons [10]. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, tomatoes were grown over 9408 hectares during Kharif season and on 3135 hectares in Rabi season produced 81214 and 37556 tons, respectively [11]. Transplanting time can greatly influence tomato fruits yield because of different agroclimatic conditions, the fruit thickness of tomato is affected by the date of transplantation [12]. [13] stated that the .earliest sowing date leads to a higher yield as compared to the later sowing date during studying the transplantation effect on tomatoes. Transplanting time had greatly influence the growth and production of tomato crop [14]. [15] stated that tomato yield and branches plant -1 was greatly reduced with the late transplanting dates. Better vegetable quality and yield can be obtained by suitable planting dates [16]. In terms of yield the earlier planting date of tomato achieved better results instead of late planting date [17]. The yield of tomato was found declined by planting later [18]. Cultivar selection is an important process because high yielding cultivar is one of the key element for uniform vegetable production. Farmers have no idea in selection of right cultivar thus still using the ancient cultivars; there is a need of .high yielding tomato cultivars for boosting the tomato production and income of the farmers. Yield and better quality of tomato depends on the proper selected cultivar.
During the year 2018 before the conduction of this experiment, the tomato yield was greatly declined due to number of reasons through which most of the farmers were adversely affected. In District Buner tomato plants died approximately three months earlier from their peak time due to which the farmers faced huge loses. The Agricultural Extension Department Buner arranged a meeting with the local farmers through the collaboration of Agricultural Research Department Buner, according to their views some farmers declared that it was due to the poor seed quality while others blamed the sowing and transplanting dates of the tomato crop, whereas some farmers raised objections on the performance of tomato cultivars. So the reason behind this experiment was to test the various transplanting dates as well as best and suitable cultivar of tomato for District Buner to minimize the loses of farmers and to boost the income of farming community, which may help in decreasing the loss of farmers in coming years by knowing the proper tomato cultivar and proper time of tomato transplants. Thus the objectives of the study was to find out the best transplanting date for tomato and to explore the best tomato cultivar in District Buner having maximum growth, higher yield as well as superior quality.

Materials and Methods
The study "performance of tomato cultivars transplanted on various dates under the agroclimatic conditions of District Buner" was conducted at Agricultural Research Station Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the year 2019 which lies at 34°48' N Latitude and 72°57' E Longitude. The annual rainfall in the locality is 672-1198 mm.

Experimental design
The treatments were assigned in split plot using (RCBD) consisted of 2 factors and was replicated thrice. Factor-A was transplantation dates which were subjected to main-plot whereas Factor-B was cultivars and were assigned to sub-plot (Table 1). Planting distance was 30 cm while Row spacing was 75 cm. 2.5 feet distance was kept between replication and same was left on all sides of the field. The size of the main plot was (9.45 m 2 ) and sub plot was kept (3.15 m 2 ). All the seeds were collected from Agricultural Extension Department Buner Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The nursery was grown from mid-February till the start of March while transplantation from the nursery bed to the field was done 30 days after the seed sowing.

Management practices
In the start of the experiment approximately nine wheelbarrow of well rotten farm yard manure were spread in the field before cultivation. After first hoeing 5 kg single super phosphate were applied with the first irrigation. Insecticides were applied for the control of "cutworms" at the interval of ten days. Fungicides were sprayed after every ten days for the control of "Early blight" and "Late blight" diseases. A mixture of 5 kg Sulphate of Potash, 2 kg Urea and 2 kg Diammonium Phosphate were made and placed on both sides of each plant. All the plots were irrigated once in a week. The hoeing and weed eradication were practiced accordingly.

Parameters studied
The data were obtained on the following mentioned parameters. 1 (31.50). According to the data the branches plant -1 were found decreased with the late transplantation, the reason might be due to increase in the local temperature. Branches plant -1 in tomato was considerably increased by the dissimilar sowing dates and found more branches on early sowing date [28]. The outcomes are strongly supported by [15] that with the late transplantation dates the number of branches plant -1 was decreased. The cultivar Anna showed more branches plant -1 which might be due to the genetic factor of the cultivar.

Number of fruits plant -1
Fruits number plant -1 data are shown in (Table 3). Data disclosed that fruits plant -1 was significantly influenced by transplantation dates and cultivars, the interactive results showed non-significant differences. The mean values exposed that more fruits plant -1 (81. 50 (Table 3). Data showed that weight of the fruit was significantly varied among the transplantation dates and cultivars; however the interaction between the transplantation dates and cultivars showed non-significant differences. Data comparison for transplantation dates showed that heavy fruit weight (128.46 g) was recorded when the transplanting done on 13 th of March, which was statistically similar with 20 th March (126.03 g), whereas the least fruit weight (120.19 g) was recorded in plants when the transplantation done on 03 rd of April. Among the cultivars, mean table showed that Anna cultivar produced fruits with heaviest weight (133.43 g), which was statistically similar to Sahil cultivar (128.71 g), whereas minimum fruit weight was attained in summer red cultivar (122.03 g). With the late transplantation the reduction in fruit weight was noted, this might be due to rise in temperature because high temperature greatly affects tomatoes production. The outcomes are in line with the earlier study of [37] they concluded that transplantation dates significantly influenced the fruit weight of cultivar Gujrat tomato-2 and found decreased in fruit weight with delayed transplantation date. [40] reported that tomato fruit gained maximum weight with earlier sowing date while reduction in weight was noted when the sowing date was delayed. The outcomes are strongly supported with the statement of [12], they noticed that the reduction in weight of tomato fruit had occurred with the late transplantation date. The Anna cultivar attained maximum fruit weight among the tested tomato cultivars which might be due to the suitability of cultivar with the climate or due to its genetic makeup. Differences in weight of different tomato cultivars were also recorded by [27]. Average fruit weight of (361 g) was obtained by tomato cultivar Mountain Spring during the comparison of different tomato cultivars [41]. Similar results for fruit weight among different tomato cultivars were also found by [2].

Fruit diameter (cm)
Diameter of fruit (cm) data is tabulated in (Table 3). Results disclosed that diameter of the fruit was significantly influenced by transplantation dates and cultivars, whereas the interactive analysis showed nonsignificant results. Among the tested dates the greatest diameter of fruit (4.98 cm) was observed when the transplantation done on 13 th of March, followed by 20 th March (4.65 cm). The smallest fruit diameter (4.33 cm) was obtained when the transplantation done on 03 rd April. In case of cultivars, (Table 3) showed that Anna cultivar resulted the fruits with maximum diameter (5.00 cm), followed by cultivar Sahil (4.68 cm), while the cultivar summer red produced fruits with minimum diameter (4.15 cm). Among the transplantation dates the greatest diameter of fruit was recorded which might be due to favourable ecological condition of the locality like temperature. The diameter of tomato fruit was varied with the different transplantation dates [42]. [37] found in their experiment that tomato fruits diameter gradually decreased with the late transplantation dates. According to [40] the reduction in fruit diameter of tomato occurred when the sowing date was delayed. The outcomes are also in line with [12] they observed minimum fruit diameter of Pusa Ruby tomato on late transplantation date as compared to early transplantation date. Fruits with maximum diameter of Anna cultivar were due to the reason that this cultivar also produced maximum fruit weight in comparison with the other cultivars as well as might be due to its genetic makeup because every cultivar has its own genetic makeup.
[2] found maximum fruit diameter (5.19 cm) and minimum fruit diameter (4.50 cm) in tomato hybrids T-7010 and PTM-1603 respectively during studying the performance of various tomato hybrids.

Fruit drop (%age)
The data related to fruit drop (%age) are presented in (Table 4). Data demonstrate that fruit drop (%age) was significantly varied by cultivars however the transplantation dates and interaction showed non-significant results. Among cultivars, the minimum drop of fruits were noted in cultivar Anna (4.87 %), which was statistically similar with cultivar Sahil (6.46 %), while the more number of fruit drop was noted in cultivar summer red (10.15 %). The maximum percentage of fruit drop was recorded in the summer red cultivar which might be due to its genetic nature as well as least adoptability to particular environmental conditions and its susceptibility to diseases. The separation or detachment of a fruit from the plant is considered as a fruit drop which is due to the biochemical and physiological changes. The fruit drop from the plant depends on cultivar or variety [43]. Selfincompatibility, water stress, insect, pest, disease infestations, hormonal imbalances, inadequate pollination and nutritional insufficiency are the chief causes for fruit drop in some cultivars of tomato [44]. Fruit drop was also recorded in some cultivars of walnut and pear by [45] during the comparison of different cultivars for the purpose of evaluation.

Total soluble solids (°Brix)
Total soluble solids (°Brix) data are shown in (Table 4). Analysis displayed that the total soluble solids (°Brix) were significantly affected by cultivars, while the transplantation dates and interaction was noted non-significant. Data for cultivars revealed that maximum TSS contents was noted in cultivar Sahil (6.33 °Brix), followed by cultivar Anna (5.58 °Brix), while the minimum total soluble solid contents (5.06 °Brix) was recorded in summer red cultivar. The results showed that Sahil cultivar attained the highest content of total soluble solids, which might be due to its genetic factor. [12] observed variation in the amount of total soluble solids in various cultivars of tomato. [37] observed the fluctuations in total soluble solids of the Gujarat Tomato-2 variety in comparison of different varieties during the evaluation process. Significant results were noted for the total soluble solids in different genotypes of tomato by [39] showing maximum TSS (4.98 %) and minimum TSS (3.70 %) for tomato varieties Bambino and Money maker respectively. Variability in the degree of total soluble solids were also noticed by [46] during studying various tomato cultivars. Yield (tons ha -1 ) Yield (tons ha -1 ) data are given in (Table 4). Analysis disclosed that yield (tons ha -1 ) was significantly affected by transplantation dates, cultivars as well as by their interaction. According to (

Disease incidence (%age)
The data for percent disease incidence (Early Blight and Late Blight) are tabulated in (Table 4). The results revealed that disease incidence (%age) were significantly influenced by cultivars, while transplantation dates and interactive effect was found non-significant. Among the tested cultivars, (Table 4) showed that the least disease incidence was found in cultivar Anna (2.30 %), followed by cultivar Sahil (3.20 %), while the more disease incidence was noted in summer red cultivar (4.12 %). The result showed that Anna cultivar was slightly affected from diseases which might be due to its genetic compositions as well as high adoptability to particular environmental conditions and it's resistant to diseases. [47] studied twenty seven tomato genotypes and concluded that varietal resistance is the best way to control tomato disease. [48] found that Zeal tomato genotype was resistant against different diseases during the evaluation of six tomato cultivars. The diseases in tomato plant could be control with the hereditary variation and resistance in cultivars [49]. Significant variation was also noted in term of disease incidence in different tomato cultivars by [50] during their experiment.

Conclusions and Recommendations
Analysis of the data displayed that transplanting dates and cultivars had significantly affected most of the studied parameters. In transplantation dates, the tallest plant, maximum number of branches plant -1 , fruits number plant -1 , fruit weight, fruit diameter, yield, least fruit drop and disease incidence were noted in 13 th March tomato seedling transplantation. Thicker stem was noted in 20 th March. Early flowering and harvesting were recorded in 03 rd April. In case of cultivars, the tallest plant, more branches plant -1 , number of fruits plant -1 , weight of fruit, diameter of fruit, yield, lowest fruit drop and disease incidence were recorded in Anna. Maximum stem diameter, total soluble solids, early flowering and harvesting were noted in Sahil cultivar. In the light of the outcomes and conclusions it may be recommended that; Anna cultivar and seedling transplantation date 13 th March may be recommended for better growth, higher yield and superior quality of tomato under the agro-climatic conditions of District Buner.