Question

The recommended seed rate per hectare for hybrid tomato is-

• A. 100 to 125 gram
• B. 200 to 250 gram
• C. 300 to 450 gram
• D. 600 to 850 gram

Hint:

Tomato Seed Rate Standards:
- Hybrid Tomato: $100\text{--}150\text{ g/ha}$ (Optimum: $100\text{--}125\text{ g/ha}$).
- Open Pollinated Tomato: $350\text{--}400\text{ g/ha}$.
- Brinjal Hybrid: $150\text{--}200\text{ g/ha}$; OP: $350\text{--}400\text{ g/ha}$.
- Chilli Hybrid: $200\text{--}250\text{ g/ha}$; OP: $1.0\text{--}1.5\text{ kg/ha}$.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept:
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a commercially important solanaceous vegetable propagated mainly through nursery raising followed by transplanting into the main field.
The quantity of seed required per unit area varies significantly between open-pollinated (OP) varieties and $F_1$ hybrids.
Due to the high cost and high vigor of $F_1$ hybrid seeds, planting geometry is wider and seed rates are kept much lower than conventional varieties.

Step 1: Comparing Tomato Seed Rates:
- Open-Pollinated (OP) Varieties: Standard tomato cultivars require approximately $350\text{--}400\text{ g/ha}$ (or $300\text{--}500\text{ g/ha}$) of certified seed to establish a plant population of about 30,000--35,000 plants per hectare.
- Hybrid ($F_1$) Varieties: $F_1$ hybrid seeds exhibit high germination percentages ($>90\%$), high seedling vigor, and larger indeterminate/semi-determinate canopies.
Hybrids are planted at wider spacings (e.g., $90\times60\text{ cm}$ or $120\times60\text{ cm}$).
Consequently, the recommended seed rate for hybrid tomato is only $100\text{ to }150\text{ g/ha}$ (commonly cited as $100\text{ to }125\text{ g/ha}$ in standard horticultural recommendations).

Step 2: Evaluating the Given Options:
- $100\text{ to }125\text{ g}$: Exact standard recommendation for $F_1$ hybrid tomato.
- $200\text{ to }250\text{ g}$: Intermediate rate, not standard for pure hybrids.
- $300\text{ to }450\text{ g}$: Standard rate for open-pollinated tomato varieties.
- $600\text{ to }850\text{ g}$: Excessive seed rate, typical of direct-seeded vegetable crops like okra.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The recommended seed rate per hectare for hybrid tomato is $100\text{ to }125\text{ gram}$, which is option (A).