Causes of Adventitious Roots in Tomatoes and How to Prevent and Treat Them

Adventitious roots are not roots that grow from the root system, but rather from other organs of the plant such as leaves and stems. Adventitious roots in tomatoes are a very common phenomenon. Usually, when the plant is undernourished and growing poorly, it produces a large number of adventitious roots to absorb more nutrients. However, too many adventitious roots will have a certain impact on the plant's fruit-setting rate. So what causes adventitious roots to appear in tomatoes? How should they be prevented and treated? Let's take a look together!

1. Improper fertilization

Cause: Most growers do not have a correct method for using fertilizer. For example, when applying base fertilizer, they only know to use farmyard manure, but the farmyard manure has not been fully decomposed, and after application it generates a great deal of heat. Or when fertilizing in planting holes, they do not control the amount well, resulting in excessively high concentration. All of these can burn the plant's roots and cause the plant to produce a large number of adventitious roots.

Prevention and treatment: When using base fertilizer, it must be fully decomposed, and then the amount of fertilizer should be controlled well. If planting has already been completed, chitosan and similar agents should be applied in a timely manner to neutralize it.

2. Excessive moisture

Cause: Soil that is too wet, or rainy weather without timely drainage, will cause waterlogging of the plant's roots or bring many harmful substances that damage the plant's root system. It will also increase the incidence of pests and diseases. For example, root rot, fusarium wilt and verticillium wilt can all cause the roots to rot. This in turn triggers adventitious roots.

Prevention and treatment: Drain excess standing water from the orchard in a timely manner. In the later stages of planting, pay attention to protecting the roots. Chitosan and similar agents can be appropriately used to promote plant growth and improve the roots' resistance.

3. Improper use of inhibitors

Cause: When planting, many growers spray inhibitors to control the plant's growth rate in order to prevent excessive vegetative growth. However, they do not control the amount well when spraying. Excessive use of inhibitors greatly hinders the plant's growth. The roots' absorption capacity becomes poorer, prompting the plant to grow a large number of adventitious roots.

Prevention and treatment: Control the use of inhibitors. Appropriate spraying is necessary, but never spray excessively, and spray evenly. After excessive use, a small amount of cytokinin can be appropriately sprayed to promote plant cell division and enhance the plant's growth.

4. Damage from diseases

Cause: Diseases are also one of the main causes of adventitious roots in tomatoes, especially some bacterial diseases. For example, necrosis disease and bacterial wilt, among others. These diseases harm the plant's vascular bundle system. Once the vascular bundle system is destroyed, the plant transports nutrients extremely slowly, and in order to obtain more nutrients the plant is forced to grow a large number of adventitious roots.

Prevention and treatment: Do a good job of preventing various diseases. Disinfect the orchard regularly, and promptly remove fallen leaves, fallen fruit and some diseased plant debris from the orchard. Copper hydroxide and similar agents can be used for prevention and treatment, but pay attention to the dosage.

Adventitious roots have a relatively large impact on the growth of tomatoes, and will cause great harm to the fruit-setting rate, quality and so on. Although a small number of adventitious roots are still somewhat beneficial to plant growth, most people will let adventitious roots grow unchecked, leading to a decline in yield. So when you discover adventitious roots, be sure to deal with them promptly. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it is helpful to everyone.