Co-Authors:
Liang, H., Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, P.O.B. 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
Teitel, M., Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, P.O.B. 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
Laufer, S., Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, P.O.B. 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
Levi, A., Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, P.O.B. 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
Harel, D., MOP DAROM, Besor Experimental Station, Mobile post 4, Israel
Alon, H., MOP DAROM, Besor Experimental Station, Mobile post 4, Israel
Antler, A., Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, P.O.B. 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
Abstract:
Pruning of long season high-wire supported tomato plants, is a common commercial operation, involving removing the older leaves from the lower part of the stem (deleafing) and lowering the plant height. This action has generally been attributed to accelerating fruit ripening, exposing the truss for easier harvest and preventing foliage diseases. Yet, the steeply reduced leaf area caused by pruning may have a significant impact on air temperature and its spatial distribution and on other environmental factors, which may in turn affect plant physiology. To determine the effect of leaf pruning and lowering crop height on air temperature, experiments were done in a flat-roof screenhouse, 4 m in height, with a floor area of about 750 m2, in which tomato plants were grown. The screenhouse was ventilated thorough the roof which was covered by a fine mesh insect-proof screen. The screenhouse sidewalls were covered by impermeable polyethylene sheets. Air temperature was measured at the center of the screenhouse at six different heights. The results showed that after pruning the air temperature was slightly higher than before pruning. Both before and after pruning the screenhouse air temperature was most of the time cooler than external air temperature. Temperature gradients above 1.7 m from the ground were much smaller after than before pruning. © 2017 ISHS.