EFFECT OF 2-(3,4-DICHLOROPHENOXY)TRIETHYLAMINE ON TOMATO LYCOPERSICON-ESCULENTUM CV UCD-82

The application of chemical bioregulator 2-(3,4-dichlorophenoxy)triethylamine (DCPTA) to tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. UCD-82) plants resulted in increased fruit yield and plant biomass and better fruit quality. Plants were treated either by seed imbibition or by a foliar application at the three-leaf stage with 5, 10, 20, and 50 ppm of DCPTA solutions in 0.01% Tween 80 only once and allowed to grow to maturity. DCPTA was found to be effective in a concentration level as low as 5 ppm. However, 10 ppm seems to be the optimum effective concentration. At this concentration, DCPTA caused an 86-89% increase in fruit yield, and 16%, 11%, and 30% increases in leaf, stem, and root biomass, respectively. No large changes in pH and total soluble solids were noted in treated fruits. A 0.08% decrease in total titratable acid, an 11% increase in sugar content, a 100% increase in fruit setting, and a 28% increase in main tomato pigment, lycopene, were found in DCPTA (10 ppm) treated fruits.