High potassium to magnesium ratio affected the growth and magnesium uptake of three tomato(Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivars

Potassium(K) and magnesium(Mg) levels and their balances are two factors affecting the growth of plant. However, the responses of different crop cultivars to K/Mg ratios are less clear. This study was aimed at assessing the different responses of tomato(Solanum Lycopersicum L.) cultivars to the different K/Mg supply ratios. Three tomato cultivars(Zhongza 9(ZZ), Gailiangmaofen(MF), and Jinpengchaoguan(JP)) were grown in pots with three different K+/Mg2+ratios(4:0, 4:1 and 8:1, represented by K/Mg4:0, K/Mg4:1, and K/Mg8:1, respectively). Compared with K/Mg4:1treatment, the leaf chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, and total biomass of tomato seedlings under K/Mg4:0treatments were decreased by 69.7, 89.1, and 53.1%, respectively. The Mg deficiency symptoms were observed when the Mg content in shoot became lower than 4 mg g–1DW. Compared with K/Mg4:1treatment, total biomass of tomato seedlings of K/Mg8:1treatment was decreased by 21.6%; the shoot and root Mg contents were decreased by 10.4 and 21.8%, respectively; and Mg uptake of tomato was reduced by 34.1%. There were significant differences in biomass and Mg uptake for the three cultivars between the different K+/Mg2+treatments. The Mg uptake of the three different cultivars ranked as ZZ>JP>MF under Mg deficiency and high K condition. In conclusion, the growth and Mg uptake and allocation of tomato were influenced significantly by imbalance K and Mg supply. JP and ZZ were the cultivars with the highest efficiency in Mg uptake.

Differential responses to feeding by the tomato/potato psyllid between two tomato cultivars and their implications in establishment of injury levels and potential of damaged plant recovery

An invasive new biotype of the tomato/potato psyllid （Bactericera [Paratrioza] cockerelli [Sulc.]） （Homoptera： Psyllidae） recently has caused losses exceeding 50% on fresh market tomatoes in western North America. Despite these extensive losses, little is known regarding the threshold levels at which populations must be suppressed in order to prevent economic losses. A series of experiments were therefore designed using combinations of two common tomato cultivars （QualiT 21 and Yellow Pear）, five pest-densities （0, 20, 30, 40 and 50 nymphs/plant）, and three feeding-duration （5 days, 10 days, and lifetime） treatments to test the relative importance of pest density, feeding period, and cumulative psyllid-days to establish economic threshold levels for psyllids. The cultivars differed considerably in their response to the toxin injected by the psyllid nymphs. ‘Yellow Pear＇ plants could recover from feeding by up to 40 nymphs for as long as 10 d, whereas ‘QualiT 21＇ plants were irreparably damaged by densities of 20 nymphs feeding for only 5 days. On ‘Yellow Pear＇, all plant measurements such as the number of yellow leaves and plant height were significantly better correlated with cumulative psyUid-days than with either pest density or feeding duration. On ‘QualiT 21 ＇, all plant measurements other than the number of yellow leaflets and leaves were significantly better correlated with pest density than with feeding duration or cumulative psyUid-days, and pest density was a better predictor of psyUid damage. Potential reasons for the variable responses between cultivars and the implications for psyllid sampling and integrated pest management are discussed.