1. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROLTomatoes Application of the Phytomonitoring techniques for adjustment and validation of climate and irrigation regimes Phytech Ltd.

2. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL Phytomonitoring is an operative information channel based on direct measurement of plant condition

3. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL Air Temperature and Humidity Sensor and Humidity Sensor Air Temperature and Humidity Sensor and Humidity Sensor Soil Moisture Sensor Data Repeater Recommended setup for Tomatoes PhytoGraph™ Software 2 x Stem Diameter Sensor (0 to 5 mm stroke) 2 x Stem Diameter Sensor (0 to 5 mm stroke) Solar Radiation Sensor Sap Flow Sensor (OPTIONAL) (OPTIONAL) Leaf Temperature Sensor (OPTIONAL) (OPTIONAL) Rounded Fruit Growth Sensor with appropriate range Rounded Fruit Growth Sensor with appropriate range

4. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL Why Phytomonitoring? Both trunk and fruit diameter curves represent combination of internal water content and growth. The fruit growth curve is useful for evaluating immediate effect of environmental factors on crop production. Response of fruit growth to air temperature is shown in the upper figure. Both diurnal variation and trend of the trunk diameter indicate perfectly plant response to irrigation regime. The lower figure demonstrates sensitivity of the trunk trend to the deficit irrigation. Normal irrigation Deficit irrigation Normal irrigation

5. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL Greenhouse Tomatoes: The use of the phytomonitoring in climate and irrigation control practice n Adjustment of the irrigation schedule n Excess of salinity: diagnostics and elimination n Control of growth rate by air temperature.

6. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL Adjustment of the irrigation schedule (Example 1 ) Probable cause: Lack of water Trial action: Increased irrigation rate since March 14 Call for measures: 1.Downturn of stem diameter trend on 3 rd day after watering. 2.Deceleration of fruit growth on 4 th day after watering. 3.Instant response of stem diameter to the last watering 1 3 2 1 Soil moisture is not scaled

7. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL Conclusion: Positive effect of new irrigation regime 1 3 2 1 Results of the trial : Increase of soil moisture minimal level No downturns of stem and fruit growth curves between waterings No instant response of stem diameter to irrigation Soil moisture is not scaled Adjustment of the irrigation schedule (Example 1 )

8. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL Adjustment of the irrigation schedule (Example 2 ) Probable cause: Lack of water Trial action: Increased irrigation rate since February 1 Call for measures: Downturn of stem diameter trend on 2 nd day after watering in humid air conditions.

9. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL Adjustment of the irrigation schedule (Example 2 ) Conclusion: Positive effect of new irrigation regime Results of the trial : Increase of soil moisture minimal level Uptrend of stem diameter and fruit growth 0.15 mm/day 0.29 mm/day

10. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL Excess of salinity: diagnostics and elimination Probable cause : Excess of salinity in soil Trial action : Flushing of substrate on March 6 Call for measures * : 1.Negative stem diameter trend 2.Stem diameter shrinkage at night 3.Broken fruit growth diurnal curve 1 2 2 3 3 * Previous change of water supply was not successful

11. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL Excess of salinity: diagnostics and elimination 1 22 33 * Previous change of water supply was not successful FLUSHING Results of the trial : Uptrend of stem diameter Stem diameter continual growth at night Continual fruit growth Conclusion : Flushing was favourable.

12. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL Control of growth rate by air temperature Probable cause : Air drought at nighttime, probably caused by too intensive heating at night. Trial action : Decrease of heating at night Call for measures: 1.Negative stem diameter trend 2.Stem diameter growth depression at night 3.Dry air conditions at night 1 3 2

13. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL Control of growth rate by air temperature 3 Conclusion : The change of temperature regime was favourable. Results of the trial : Decrease of air average temperature at night from 20 to 18°C (VPD decreased from 0.6 to 0.4 kPa accordingly). Uptrend of stem diameter. Stem diameter continual growth at night. Uptrend of fruit growth. 0.2 mm/day 0.4 mm/day 1 2

14. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROLSummary: The recommended PhyTalk Decision-Support unit (DSU) for greenhouse tomatoes includes the following sensors: 2 x Stem diameter sensors (0-5 mm stroke) 1 x Fruit growth sensor 1 x Leaf temperature sensor (optional) 1 x Sap flow sensor (optional) 1 x Solar radiation sensor 1 x Soil moisture sensors 1 x Air Temperature and Humidity Sensor This DSU allows the following: Adjusting irrigation schedule Diagnostics and elimination of excess of salinity Control of growth rate by air temperature

15. PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL Economic benefits: Yield of tomato plants strongly depend on proper irrigation regime, which can be fine-tined with the use of Phytomonitoring. Detection and prevention of developing salinity stress is essential for saving yield. Even moderate salinity stress (EC<5.5 dS/m) may cause a 12% loss of yield (Pasternak and De Malach, 1987) Direct control of plant growth rate allows to validate optimal temperature regime in greenhouse and, consequently, to provide optimal efficiency of plant growing