Two species of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. var. EGE12P1 and Lycopersicon hirsutum Humb. & Bonpl. ecotype LA 1777, were submitted to two temperature treatments, 20 or 10 °C. After a short study of plant growth, we analysed the chemical composition (cations, anions, and amino acids) of xylem sap by high performance liquid chromatography. A comparison of fresh weight increase at 20 and 10 °C of both plant species showed that L. hirsutum was the least affected by low temperature. The volumes of secreted sap and the quantities of ions transported showed great disturbances in the sensitive species (L. esculentum), especially in the case of potassium. In xylem sap of both species studied, but only at 10 °C, we noticed the appearance of ammonium. The possibility of contamination during analytical processing was eliminated. Moreover, determinations of amino acids levels showed that ammonium did not arise from degradation of amides present in xylem sap. In any event, the proportion of nitrate absorbed and reduced in roots increased at low temperature; it is much more important in L. hirsutum and could constitute a tolerance factor to low temperatures. Key words: ammonium, low temperature, Lycopersicon, xylem sap.
