Protocols Tomato - Vegetative

Determine if the head of the plant is pruned (yes / no).

Photo 1: head of the plant is not pruned.

Photo 2: head of the plant is pruned.

This measurement only takes place on plants on which only the first flower on the highest flowering truss is opened. If for a measurement stem the first flower on the highest flowering truss is not open, please measure comparable stem nearby as a replacement.

Measure the distance between marking on the wire at the head from the current measurement session and the highest flowering truss. Next, register the distance in the app (14.5 cm).

Find the marking of the head on the wire from the prior measurement session.

At the location of the marking determine the longest diameter of the stem.

Measure the longest diameter of the stem and register the diameter in the app (10mm)

If a leaf or truss is located at the marking, measure the diameter of the stem directly below the leaf or truss.

Identify the highest truss on which **all fruits are set**. Note, it does not matter if this truss contains elements that were lost due to abortion.

Measure the distance between this truss and truss directly below and register the distance in the app.

In plant science, internode length is usually measured between two leaves. However, to find the average distance between two trusses, the measured values are divided by 3. This is because, on average, there are three leaves between two trusses, resulting in three internodes.

Find the head marking on the wire from two measurement sessions ago.

Select the leaf located at the marking. If not available, select the first leaf below the marking.

Note, definition of leaf: leaf stem including all leaflets on the stem.

Measure the distance from the stem to the end of the leaf and register it in the app (50 cm).

Determine if a leaf in the head was pruned and register it in the app (yes / no).

Photo 1 & 1a: before a leaf was pruned from the head.

Photo 2 & 2a: side shoot plus leaf in the head of the plant are removed and damage to the plant from pruning is visible. Moreover, on a tomato plant there are generally 3 leaves between 2 trusses. So if only 2 leaves are present between 2 trusses in the head, then a leaf was removed.

Leaves are regularly removed at the bottom of the stem, creating 'free' trusses.

Free trusses have both no leaves above and below the truss.

Count the number of free trusses and register this number in the app (2 free trusses).

Find the head marking on the wire from two measurement sessions ago.

Select the leaf located at the marking. If not available, select the first leaf below the marking.

Note, definition of leaf: leaf stem including all leaflets on the stem.

Measure the length of the longest leaflet on the leaf (distance from leaf stem to end of leaflet).

Multiply the measurement by 2 and register this value in the app (e.g., 2 x 21 cm = 42 cm).

Find the head marking on the wire from the prior measurement sessions.

Count the total number of leaves below this marking. Next, register the number of leaves in the app (16 leaves).

Note, definition of leaf: leaf stem including all leaflets on the stem.

Determine the location of the plant head.

Mark the location of the head on the wire.

Measure the distance on the wire between the head marking of the previous and current measurement session. Next, register the distance in the app (25.5 cm). Please only register your length growth from the second measurement session onwards.