EVALUATION OF PRUNING IN TWO HUSK TOMATO (Physalis ixocarpa Brot. ex Horm.) VARIETIES CULTIVATED IN FIELD

This investigation was carried out during the spring - summer cycle of 2005. The purpose was to improve the quality and yield of husk tomato crop with pruning. The effect of four pruning levels (fourth inter node, sixth inter node, eighth inter node, and without pruning) was studied on two husk tomato varieties (CHF1 Chapingo, and Tamazula SM2). The experiment design was a randomized blocks with four replications, and treatments were arranged in a 4x2 full factorial design. The experimental unit was of 6 m2, 18 total plants, and 16 plants to measuring. The evaluated characteristics were fruit size (equatorial and polar diameter), fruit weight, and yield. Pruning had not positive effect on yield and fruit quality. The highest yield (963.5 g per plant) and better fruit quality (weight per fruit of 26.4 g, equatorial diameter of 54.4 mm, and polar diameter of 34.1 mm) were obtained with the CHF1 Chapingo variety.