The effect of different methods of staking and training tomato plants was investigated to determine the severity of leaf damage and the incidence of pests in fruits of different cultivars. Two experiments were carried out in 2004/2005 and 2005/2006, in Caçador, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The treatments consisted of the combination of two cultivars, Carmen and Débora Max, in 2004/2005, and Nemo Netta and San Vito, in 2005/2006; four staking methods, crossed fence, 'Mexican', vertical staking with bamboo and vertical staking with polypropylene cord; and two training methods, one and two stems per plant keeping the same number of stems per area. Severities of late blight, early blight and bacterial spot in leaves and the percentage of fruits with physiological and phytopathological diseases and with insect damages were evaluated. All vertical staking methods provided smaller severity of late blight, early blight and bacterial spot in leaves and attack of insects than crossed fence method. The severity of leaf diseases and percentage of fruits with insect damages did not differ among plant training methods.
Lycopersicon esculentum; staking methods; diseases severity; insect-pest damages
