Abstract
'Florida 47' tomato {Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seeds were soaked in a 0.1% (w/v) solution of a triterpenic acid biostimulant ('Silk', ECP, Zelenogorsk, Russia). After soaking, seeds were either rinsed with deionized water or not rinsed. treatments were seeds soaked in water or non-treated. The seedlings were transplanted to the field 33 days later using full-bed polyethylene mulch with a micro (drip) irrigation production system. Experimental design was a split-plot replicated four times. Main plots were the four seed treatments and sub-plots were 'Silk' foliar spray and a non-sprayed control. The 'Silk' foliar spray at the equivalent of 50 g/ha was applied at first bloom, then three more times at 14-day intervals. Seedling emergence was highest with the water (91%) and lowest with the 'Silk' + water rinse (79%) treatment (P < 0.05). Seasonal total yields of large fruit were higher with the water, 'Silk'/no rinse, and non-treated than the 'Silk' + water rinse treatment. Medium size fruit yields were highest with the 'Silk'/no rinse and lowest with the water seed treatment. Yields of extra-large and marketable total fruit were similar with all four seed treatments. Yields were also similar with the foliar 'Silk' and nonsprayed foliar treatments. There were few significant differences in elemental concentrations in the shoots, fruit, and in the soil among the seed and foliar treatments.
