Journal of Bio-Environment Control ISSN:1229-4675(Print) 2765-3641(Online) 생물환경조절학회지

High quality transplants are critical for success in crop production. Increasing numbers of growers purchase their transplants from specialized transplant producers instead of growing their own transplants. A drawback of purchasing transplants is the risk of deterioration to transplants during transportation from transplant producers to the growers. This study evaluates the influence of temperature on the quality of grafted tomatoes transplants (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Super Doterang), in order to propose optimum temperature condition for the transportation of grafted tomato transplants. Grafted tomato transplants with visible flower trusses were exposed to different air temperature (10°C, 25°C, or 40°C) for 2, 4, or 6 hours. After treatment, the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) values of tomato transplants treated at 25 and 40°C were lower than that at 10°C. The root fresh weight was lowest at 40°C. After transplanting, the transplants that were exposed to the air temperature of 40°C exhibited chlorosis and blight on lower leaves. The degree of damage on leaves was severer as the high temperature exposure time was longer. The temperature conditions during the transportation also influenced the growth, flowering and fruit set of tomatoes after transplanting. The fruit number and weight of first truss was lowest at 40°C for 6 hours. Accordingly, it is recommended that the temperature during the transportation should be controlled and kept at the range from 10 to 25°C even though the period is short (within as six hours) in order to maintain the quality of transplants.