Identifying Heat Tolerant Root Stocks Out of Eight Different Tomato Cultivars Grown at Elevated Temperatures Samantha Buie, Courtney Dekalb-Myers, Shivani Kathi, Justin Moss Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078 *Presenting author- Samantha.buie10@okstate.edu Heat stress is a common challenge when it comes to tomato production in Oklahoma. High temperatures affect different physiological and biochemical functions in tomato plants, thereby affecting plant growth, yield, and fruit development. The current study aims to identify the heat tolerant tomatoes and their potential for root stocks out of eight tomato varieties. Different varieties of tomatoes include ‘Celebrity’, ‘Florida 91’, and trial varieties ‘NC 2/270’, ‘NC 2/271’, and ‘NC 2/272’ which are considered heat tolerant, while ‘Homestead’ and ‘Rutgers’ are considered heat sensitive. These varieties were replicated four times in completely randomized design in two different growth chambers. One growth chamber was maintained at an optimum temperature (26 °C/ 19 °C Day/night) and the other growth chamber was maintained at elevated temperature conditions (36 °C/ 26 °C). Data was collected on plant height, number of leaves, side shoots, flowers, and fruits, and plant and root biomass at harvest. The heat tolerant tomato cultivars had better plant and root characteristics than that of heat sensitive tomatoes. Identification of superior root stocks will help researchers use them in combination with better performing scions in future studies to develop heat-tolerant grafted tomato plants with improved growth and yield.
