Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) yield and quality depending on the osmotic potential and the number of stems

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the biochemical components, physical characteristics (number of stems and fruit), and yield of Saladette tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), Var. Cid F1, grown under greenhouse conditions and its response to a constant increase (from 1 to 2.5 dS m^-1) of the osmotic potential of a nutrient solution, during three phenological stages (transplantation, 2nd cluster fruiting, and 6th cluster fruiting) of plants subjected to a single- and two-stem training system.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A sampling was carried out in the 5th cluster to determine the physical characteristics (firmness, size, number, color) and biochemical components (total soluble solids, titratable acidity, vitamin C, lycopene, pH, electrical conductivity, and ripening index) of the fruits. The experiment was established in 2018, under a greenhouse hydroponic system at Colegio de Postgraduados. The experiment was set as randomized complete block design with four replicates.

Results: The increase of osmotic potential and pruning had a positive effect on yield and number of fruits without affecting the biochemical components. Regarding the physical characteristics, T1 had 76% large fruits, 19% medium-sized fruits, 4% small fruits, and 1% tiny fruits.

Study Limitations/Implications: This methodology should be evaluated to other tomato varieties using different substrate mixtures and rates of chemical and organic fertilizers to evaluate water response and crop yield.

Findings/Conclusions: Increasing the osmotic potential of the nutrient solution, during phenological stages of maximum water and nutrient demand and the removal of old leaves had a positive response by increasing fruit number, size, and yield.