The test facility SynTech Research Spain S.L., Spanish Consultancy officially recognized as an organization for efficacy testing in plant protection products in Spain (with Official Acknowledgement nº EOR2/96) has carried out the field trial on tomatoes variety ´Lucrecia´ with the objective indicated in the title of this report.

This study was executed in cooperation between SynTech Research Spain, recerca

Agricola – Spain and SANBOS GmbH – Germany.

1. Methods and material

A field trial on protected tomato, cv ´Lucrecia´ (fresh market) was performed in Spain. The objective of this trial was to determine the effect on the crop development after receiving 1 application by spray to the soil.

One experimental plot was selected in Motril (Granada-Spain). Elemental plots were 100 sqm and three replicates per treatment were used. 1 application to the crop line (0,5 m wide band along the drip line onto the soil) was done 6 days after transplanting, with tomato seedlings around 20 cm tall (at BBCH 13); a backpack was used for the application. Assessments were done on general vigor,  height of the plants, number of leaves/plant, number of flowers, weight of the fruit and fruit number; assessments were done 2, 4 & 8 weeks after application for vigor, height & number of leaves; flowering was checked  8 weeks after application and 3 tomato harvests were done (79, 86 & 94 days after application)

Table 1. Basic data

Season	2011
Location	Motril, Granada, Spain Picture 1. Map (Source: www.googleearth.com)
Organization	recerca Agricola SynTech Research Spain
Crop	Tomato (Lycopersicon es., transplanted)
Variety	Lucrecia
Trial field	Greenhouse, 5.3x19m, 100.7 m², 3 replications
Method	Randomized Complete Block (RCB), single control randomized in each block
Soil quality	Loam, fertigation level good, 60% sand, 15% silt, 25% clay, 1.42% OM, pH 7.87
Crop rotation	2012: cucumber
Test product	Sanbio PLANTA, manufactured by SANBOS GmbH, Germany
Dosage	1.5 kg/ha PLANTA, spray volume: 940 L/ha
Application	Spray onto soil
No. of applications	1
Date of transplanting	14/02/2012, tomato seedling BBCH 13, 20cm tall
Date of application	6 days after transplanting, 20/02/2012
Date of harvest	79, 86 & 94 days after application
Scoring	vigor, yield

Figure 1. Weather data at weather station Motril

2.  Results

2.1 Results after 3 picklings

Figure 2. Plant vigor in %    

Figure 3. Plant height in cm

Figure 4. Number of leaves per plant

Figure 5. Number of flowers per plant

Figure 6. % of fruit starting ripening                

Figure 7. Total number of fruits in 5 plants

Figure 8. Total weight of fruits in 5 plants (g) 

Figure 9. Yield per hectare (kg/ha)

3. Discussion

• Plants receiving the experimental product are taller than untreated; significant differences were observed in height between treated and untreated, but no differences were observed between both experimental products.
• No effect of the products was observed for the number of leaves, number of flowers per cluster.
• Sanbio VITAL improved the early ripening of tomatoes, statistically different to those of untreated plots.
• Sanbio PLANTA also achieved a larger number of tomatoes starting ripening earlier than the untreated plot but without statistical differences.
• Because of the advance in ripening, more yield (kg & number of tomatoes) was obtained in the first picking for those plants treated with the experimental products:

42% more for Sanbio VITAL for both kg and number of tomatoes

24% and 18% more for Sanbio PLANTA for kg and number of tomatoes

after three pickings, total yield tends to be more equal with

3,4% & 9,5 % increment for Sanbio VITAL for weight and number of tomatoes

11,1% and 18,5% for Sanbio PLANTA for weight and number of tomatoes.

No symptoms suggesting any kind of phytotoxicity were observed in tomato plants.

No problems when handling the experimental products.

4. Photographs

Picture 2. Crop stage at application

Picture 3. Yield assessment

Picture 3 and 4. Untreated plot at first yield assessment

Picture 5 and 6. Plot treated with Sanbio VITAL at first yield assessment

Picture 7 and 8. Plot treated with Sanbio PLANTA at first yield assessment

Picture 9 and 10. Untreated plot at third yield assessment

Picture 11 and 12. Plot treated with Sanbio VITAL at third yield assessment

Picture 13 and 14. Plot treated with Sanbio PLANTA at third yield assessment

5. Conclusion

Both experimental products produced an advance in tomato ripening and higher yields in the first pickings. As well, both of them can be safely used on tomatoes cv. Lucrecia.