FOLIAR APPLICATION OF HOTSPOT BIO-STIMULANT IMPROVES VEGETATIVE GROWTH, FRUIT YIELD, QUALITY, AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE IN TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.) UNDER EASTERN DRY ZONE CONDITIONS OF KARNATAKA, INDIA

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a globally vital horticultural crop, yet its productivity under South Indian conditions is often constrained by sub-optimal nutrient availability and canopy development. The present investigation evaluated the dose-response efficacy of HOTSPOT, a proprietary foliar bio-stimulant, at four concentrations (2, 2.5, 3, and 5 ml L⁻¹) on growth, yield, fruit quality, and N-P-K uptake in tomato during Rabi 2024-25 at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), GKVK, Bangalore. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments replicated four times was employed. Foliar application of HOTSPOT significantly enhanced plant height (up to 128.81 cm), branching (15.47 per plant), leaf area, dry matter accumulation, and fruit yield parameters relative to the untreated control. T5 (5 ml L⁻¹) recorded the highest fruit yield (252.98 q ha⁻¹; +28.97% over control) with superior fruit weight (110.74 g), fruit diameter (6.80 cm), and lycopene content (3.96 mg 100 g⁻¹). Nutrient uptake of N (98.53), P (49.93), and K (112.76 kg ha⁻¹) was also significantly higher under T5. No phytotoxicity was observed at any dose. Economically, T4 (3 ml L⁻¹) delivered the highest cost-benefit ratio (1:6.76), making it the recommended dose for smallholder tomato producers. These results demonstrate that HOTSPOT bio-stimulant at 3 ml L⁻¹ represents the optimal agronomic and economic rate for tomato production in the Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka..