Physiological Disorders · physiological disorders Physiological disorders are abnormalities in tomato development that are not caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.
Pruning (training the tomato plant) · pruning tomatoes Pruning is one of the most important maintenance practices in the cultivation of indeterminate tomatoes.
Physiological maturity Physiological maturity is the stage of development at which the fruit has finished growing and the seeds have reached full germination capa…
Peat pots Peat pots allow you to plant seedlings along with the container, minimizing root damage during transplanting.
Phenotype A phenotype refers to all the observable characteristics of a plant, such as height, fruit size, color, taste, and growth rate.
Pollen Fertility · pollen viability Pollen fertility refers to the ability of pollen grains to successfully fertilize a flower and set fruit.
Phytohormones · plant hormones Phytohormones are natural substances that regulate plant growth and development.
Phytotoxicity Phytotoxicity refers to damage to plants caused by excessively high concentrations of fertilizer, plant protection products, or other chemi…
Physiological Disorders · physiological diseases, physiological disorders See: Physiological Disorders.
Photosynthesis Photosynthesis is the process by which a plant uses light energy to produce sugars from carbon dioxide and water.
Photoinhibition Photoinhibition is a decrease in photosynthetic efficiency that occurs when the amount of light energy absorbed exceeds the plant’s capacit…
Photoperiod · day length Photoperiod refers to the length of day and night—that is, the amount of light a plant receives over a 24-hour period.
Phosphorus (P) Phosphorus is a macronutrient essential for root system development, flowering, and fruit set.
Phytophthora (late blight) · late blight Phytophthora diseases are caused by fungus-like organisms of the genus *Phytophthora*.
Plant Immunization · induction of plant immunity Plant immunization is a colloquial term for inducing or priming a plant’s natural defense mechanisms.
Post-harvest firmness Post-harvest firmness refers to the ability of fruit to retain its firmness after harvest.
Plant Feeding (Nutrition) Feeding plants is a colloquial term for providing tomatoes with the nutrients necessary for growth and fruit production.
Potato leaves · potato leaf, PL Potato-type leaves are one of the basic types of foliage found on tomato plants.
Phosphorus deficiency Phosphorus deficiency causes stunted growth, poor root development, and dark green or purple leaf coloration.
Potassium Deficiency Potassium deficiency is characterized by the drying out of the edges of older leaves, weaker fruit coloration, and reduced fruit shelf life.
Plant load · fruit load Plant load refers to the number of developing fruits in relation to the plant’s ability to nourish them.
Pedicel joint (abscission zone) · ring at the stem The “ring” at the pedicel is commonly referred to as the visible “knee,” that is, the separation zone typically located in the middle of th…
Plant Nutrition · plant nutrition Plant nutrition encompasses all processes related to the uptake, transport, and utilization of nutrients.
Pre-harvest interval (PHI) The pre-harvest interval is the period of time that must elapse between the last application of a plant protection product and the harvest …
Parthenocarpy · fruit set without fertilization Parthenocarpy is a plant’s ability to produce fruit without fertilization.
Pathotype A pathotype is a group of strains of the same pathogen that differ in their ability to overcome the resistance of specific tomato varieties.
Pricking out Pricking out is the process of transplanting young seedlings from a shared container into individual pots or cells with more space for the …
Plant habit A plant’s growth habit describes its overall appearance, height, growth pattern, and the arrangement of its leaves and trusses.
Polarization of Growth · growth polarity Growth polarization refers to the establishment of an ordered axis of plant development, such as the apical-basal axis that determines the …
PPFD · photosynthetic photon flux density PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density) defines the density of the photon flux in the 400–700 nm range incident on a given surface.
Prevention · disease prevention Prevention includes all measures aimed at preventing the occurrence of diseases and other problems in crop cultivation.
Plant Regeneration Regeneration is the process of rebuilding damaged tissues and restoring a plant’s normal functioning after a period of stress.
Plant debris Plant debris consists of the remains left after the end of the growing season, including stems, leaves, roots, and unharvested fruit.
Planting Planting involves transferring seedlings to their permanent location—whether in the ground, a tunnel, a greenhouse, or a container.
Physiological drought Physiological drought occurs when water is present in the soil but the plant cannot absorb it.
Peduncle (fruit stalk) The peduncle (fruit stalk) connects the fruit to the truss and is responsible for transporting water and nutrients to the developing tomato.
Planting Date The planting date should be adjusted to local climatic conditions and the type of crop.
Protected cultivation (under cover) · tunnel cultivation, greenhouse cultivation Protected cultivation involves growing tomatoes in plastic tunnels or greenhouses.
Photosynthetic Efficiency · photosynthetic efficiency Photosynthetic efficiency determines how effectively a plant converts light energy into organic compounds.
Plant Density · planting density Plant density refers to the number of tomato plants growing in a given area.
Plant Health · phytosanitary status Plant health refers to their overall condition and the extent to which they are affected by diseases and pests.
