Irrigation Cutback a Reliable Tool for Soluble Solids Improvement in Processing Tomato

Soluble solids concentration (SSC) is a major quality factor for tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) grown for processing. The effects of early irrigation cutback were investigated in a series of drip-irrigated field trials in California from 2000-03. Irrigation cutback was initiated from 4-7 weeks preharvest, with irrigation volume reduced to 30% to 70% of reference evapotranspiration. Early irrigation cutback was compared to full irrigation until cutoff 2-3 weeks preharvest. SSC was monitored from the initiation of deficit irrigation until harvest, with breaker-stage fruit sampled at approximately 10-day intervals; additionally, early-maturing fruits were tagged on the plant at breaker stage and retrieved at harvest for SSC analysis. Fruit yield, overall SSC, and brix yield (Mg·ha-1 fruit solids) were evaluated at commercial maturity. Fruit SSC increased in response to soil moisture stress, with late-maturing fruit as much as 2.0 °Brix higher than fruit maturing before significant moisture stress. However, once a fruit reached the breaker stage of maturity, its SSC did not increase regardless of subsequent soil moisture stress. Across field trials, yield decline resulting from early irrigation cutback was matched by a corresponding increase in overall SSC, resulting in equivalent brix yield in all test fields. We conclude that the early irrigation cutback provides a flexible tool for SSC management and that °Brix monitoring of breaker-stage fruit can augment soil moisture monitoring to tune irrigation management to field-specific conditions.

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Managing Fruit Soluble Solids with Late-season Deficit Irrigation in Drip-irrigated Processing Tomato Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.40.6.1857 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 40 (6) ◽

pp. 1857-1861 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

P.R. Johnstone ◽

T.K. Hartz ◽

M. LeStrange ◽

J.J. Nunez ◽

E.M. Miyao

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Fruit Ripening ◽

Deficit Irrigation ◽

Moisture Stress ◽

Field Trials ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Yield Reduction ◽

Soil Moisture Stress ◽

Late Season ◽

Early Ripening

Fruit soluble solids concentration (SSC) is an important quality factor for tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) grown for processing. The use of drip irrigation often results in undesirably low SSC. The effects of late-season irrigation management on fruit yield and SSC was investigated in a series of drip-irrigated field trials in California from 2000–04. The effects of irrigation cutoff or deficit irrigation implemented 40 to 50 days preharvest (the period corresponding to the initiation of fruit ripening) were compared to a standard grower practice of irrigation cutoff 20 days preharvest. Irrigation cutoff 40 to 50 days preharvest increased SSC but resulted in substantial yield loss, with significantly reduced brix yield (Mg fruit solids ha-1). By contrast, deficit irrigation significantly increased SSC compared to the standard practice, with no significant loss of brix yield. In three commercial fields the effect of deficit irrigation on fruit SSC was investigated. Fruits were sampled on three dates: 1) 4 to 5 weeks preharvest, early-ripening, pink-stage fruit only, 2) about 1 week preharvest, both late-ripening, pink-stage fruit and early-ripening fruit now fully ripe, and 3) commercial harvest, composite of early- and late-maturing fruit. SSC increased in response to soil moisture stress induced by deficit irrigation, with late-maturing fruit as much as 1.6 °brix higher than fruit maturing before significant soil moisture stress. However, once a fruit reached the pink stage of maturity, its SSC was not affected by subsequent soil moisture stress. An additional five commercial field trials were conducted to compare growers' irrigation practices with greater degrees of deficit irrigation. In each field the grower's deficit irrigation regime was compared to a reduced treatment receiving 25% to 50% less water over the final 4 to 7 weeks before harvest. Across fields, applying 20% to 60% of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) over the fruit ripening period resulted in acceptable SSC without significant brix yield reduction. We conclude that deficit irrigation initiated during early fruit ripening provides a flexible tool for SSC management. Brix monitoring of earliest ripening fruit can help classify fields as to the severity of irrigation deficit required to reach desirable SSC at harvest.

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AN EVALUATION OF BENZYLADENINE AS A POSSIBLE CHEMICAL THINNER OF “EMPIRE”

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.6.592a ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 592a-592

Author(s):

V.E. Emongor ◽

D.P. Murr ◽

J.T.A Proctor ◽

E.C. Lougheed

Keyword(s):

Field Trials ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Research Station ◽

Full Bloom ◽

Ethylene Concentration ◽

Solids Concentration ◽

Cambridge Research ◽

Thinning Effect ◽

Soluble Solids Concentration

Field trials at Cambridge Research Station, Ontario, Canada, studied the thinning effect of benzyladenine (BA) on eighteen-year-old “Empire” apple trees. At 16 days after full bloom (fruit diameter 12.87 mm) whole trees were hand sprayed to drip point with BA (0, 100, or 200 mg.1-1). Untreated control trees were compared with treated and hand thinned trees. BA significantly reduced crop load on “Empire”. The thinning response to BA was linear, with recommended thinning occurring at 200 mg.1-1. At harvest, fruit weight, size (diameter and length), flesh firmness and soluble solids concentration, chlorophyll and anthocyanin contents, and seed number were increased by BA treatments. BA had no effect on fruit L:D ratio, internal ethylene concentration, maturity, and the onset of the respiratory climacteric, but significantly reduced respiration at harvest. BA also reduced ethylene production and ACC content at harvest, though the reduction was not significant. Although firmness of BA-treated fruit was significantly higher at harvest, upon storage for 1 month at 0-0.5°C and 90-95% RH the firmness advantage was lost BA shows potential as a thinner of “Empire” apple and has advantage of increasing fruit weight and size, since “Empire” is a relatively small apple compared to other commercial cultivars.

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Irrigation Scheduling to Increase Muskmelon Fruit Biomass and Soluble Solids Concentration

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.41.2.367 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 367-369 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Robert L. Long ◽

Kerry B. Walsh ◽

David J. Midmore ◽

Gordon Rogers

Keyword(s):

Water Stress ◽

Fruit Development ◽

Cucumis Melo ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Sugar Accumulation ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Solids Concentration ◽

Soluble Solids Concentration

A common practice for the irrigation management of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. reticulatus group) is to restrict water supply to the plants from late fruit development and through the harvest period. However, this late fruit development period is critical for sugar accumulation and water stress at this stage is likely to limit the final fruit soluble solids concentration (SSC). Two field irrigation experiments were conducted to test the idea that maintaining muskmelon plants free of water stress through to the end of harvest will maximise sugar accumulation in the fruit. In both trials, water stress before or during harvest detrimentally affected fruit SSC and fresh weight (e.g., no stress fruit 11.2% SSC, weight 1180 g; stress fruit 8.8% SSC, weight 990 g). Maintaining plants free of water stress from flowering through to the end of harvest is recommended to maximise yield and fruit quality.

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Environment Affects White Drupelet Disorder Expression on Three Blackberry Cultivars in South Mississippi

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech03880-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 840-845 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eric T. Stafne ◽

Amir Rezazadeh ◽

Melinda Miller-Butler ◽

Barbara J. Smith

Keyword(s):

Observational Studies ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Field Trials ◽

Consumer Perceptions ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Ripening Stage ◽

Solids Concentration ◽

Overhead Irrigation ◽

Soluble Solids Concentration

White drupelet disorder (WDD) is a problem that occurs during the ripening stage in some blackberry (Rubus subgenus Rubus) cultivars. Although berries affected with a few white drupelets may taste fine, they are unpleasant aesthetically, and this may lead to negative consumer perceptions and economic ramifications. During 2 years of observational studies and field trials (2016 and 2017), we evaluated changes in three susceptible cultivars in Mississippi affected by WDD. ‘Chickasaw’, ‘Kiowa’, and ‘Sweetie Pie’ berries were harvested twice per week and assessed for WDD. Weather conditions differed substantially during harvest in 2016 and 2017, with 2017 being cooler and rainier which resulted in a lower incidence of WDD. Compared with 2016, in 2017, the overall percentage of berries exhibiting WDD dropped from 22% to 12% for ‘Sweetie Pie’, 6% to 3% for ‘Chickasaw’, and 8% to 3% for ‘Kiowa’. The soluble solids concentration was highest in ‘Sweetie Pie’, 11.9% and 9.5% for 2016 and 2017, respectively. For all cultivars examined, the soluble solids concentration of extracted white drupelets was substantially lower than regular drupelets. The value for skin break force for white drupelets was higher than that for black drupelets, 0.99 N vs. 0.29 N, respectively. In 2017, an about 30% shadecloth treatment had a significantly positive impact by decreasing WDD symptoms in all cultivars by 63% when compared with non-shaded plants, but soluble solids concentration was lower. Our results indicate that rain and shadecloth decrease symptoms of WDD. Therefore, growers may be able to use overhead irrigation and shade to reduce WDD symptoms.

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DCPTA Ineffective as a Production Aid on Field-grown Tomato and Pepper

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.30.1.78 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 78-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

T.K. Hartz ◽

L.J. Kies ◽

A. Baameur ◽

D.M. May

Keyword(s):

Seed Treatment ◽

Foliar Spray ◽

Field Trials ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Tomato Fruits ◽

Processing Tomato ◽

Solids Concentration ◽

Soluble Solids Concentration

Application of DCPTA, as a seed treatment and a foliar spray, was evaluated for effects on productivity and fruit quality of processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and fresh-market pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Two field trials for each crop were conducted in California during 1992. No DCPTA treatment was effective in increasing vegetative growth or fresh fruit yield of either crop at any site. Total soluble solids concentration and color of tomato fruits were unaffected by DCPTA, regardless of application method. We conclude that DCPTA is not a useful production aid for field-grown tomato or pepper. Chemical name used: 2-(3,4-dichlorophenoxy) triethylamine (DCPTA).

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Irrigation Regimes Affect Fruit Soluble Solids Concentration and Rate of Water Loss of `O'Henry' Peaches

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.29.10.1169 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 29 (10) ◽

pp. 1169-1171 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

Carlos H. Crisosto ◽

R. Scott Johnson ◽

Juvenal G. Luza ◽

Gayle M. Crisosto

Keyword(s):

Water Loss ◽

Prunus Persica ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Irrigation Treatment ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Storage Performance ◽

Solids Concentration ◽

Irrigation Treatments ◽

And Storage ◽

Soluble Solids Concentration

The effect of irrigation management strategies on the quality and storage performance of `O'Henry' peaches [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] was studied for two seasons. The deficit irrigation treatment induced a higher fruit soluble solids concentration and lower fruit weight. The excess irrigation treatment, compared to the optimum treatment, increased the rate of fruit water loss without altering fruit quality and storage performance. Scanning electron microscope observations indicated a higher density of trichomes on fruit from the deficit and optimum irrigation treatments than from the excess irrigation treatment. Light microscopy studies indicated that fruit from deficit and optimum irrigation had a continuous and much thicker cuticle than fruit from the excess irrigation treatment. These differences in exodermis structure may explain the high percentage of water loss from fruit from the excess irrigation treatment compared to the deficit and optimum irrigation treatments.

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Cell Size and Pretransplant Nutritional Conditioning Influences Early Vine Growth and Yield of Transplanted Watermelon

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.4.594e ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 594e-594

Author(s):

Charles J. Graham

Keyword(s):

Cell Volume ◽

Significant Influence ◽

Field Performance ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Average Weight ◽

Shoot Dry Weight ◽

Solids Concentration ◽

Soluble Solids Concentration

Research is needed to better understand the influence of cell volume and fertility on watermelon transplant size and field performance in order to determine the most economic production practices. `Jubilee' watermelon transplants were grown using a 4 x 4 factorial experimental design consisting of 4 cell volumes (30.7, 65.5, 147.5, and 349.6 cm3) and 4 fertility rates (0, 1/4, 1/2, and full-strength Hoagland's solution). Transplant shoot dry weight significantly increased as cell volume and fertility increased. Increasing cell volume linearly increased watermelon number/ha and tons/ha for early and total harvest in 1995. The average weight per watermelon significantly increased for early-harvested fruit but not for total harvest as cell volume increased in 1995. Soluble solids concentration linearly increased with increasing cell volume for early and total harvests in 1995. Cell volume had no significant influence on the harvest parameters measured in 1997. In 1995, increasing fertility linearly increased watermelon number/ha and tons/ha for early harvests. Increasing fertility increased the soluble solids concentration linearly for early-harvested watermelons in 1997 but not in 1995. Fertility rate had no significant influence on any of the other harvest parameters measured in 1995 and 1997. The growing conditions and disease pressure in 1997 reduced melons/ha, yield, and soluble solids content when compared to 1995 values. The half-strength Hoagland's solution produced the greatest number of watermelons/ha, tons/ha, and the highest soluble solids concentration in 1995 and 1997. Pretransplant nutritional conditioning had no significant effect on total `Jubilee' watermelon production in Louisiana for 1995 and 1997.

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Correlations of Vegetative and Reproductive Characters with Root Traits of Upland Rice under Imposed Soil Moisture Stress

Nigerian Journal of Biotechnology ◽

10.4314/njb.v32i1.9 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 61

Author(s):

A.L Nassir ◽

K.M. Adewusi ◽

S.O. Olagunju

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Upland Rice ◽

Root Traits ◽

Moisture Stress ◽

Soil Moisture Stress ◽

Reproductive Characters

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Improved understanding of drought controls on seasonal variation in Mediterranean forest canopy CO<sub>2</sub> and water fluxes through combined in situ measurements and ecosystem modelling

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-6-1423-2009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 6 (8) ◽

pp. 1423-1444 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

T. Keenan ◽

R. García ◽

A. D. Friend ◽

S. Zaehle ◽

C. Gracia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Forest Canopy ◽

Moisture Stress ◽

Mediterranean Ecosystems ◽

Forest Growth ◽

Water Fluxes ◽

Soil Moisture Stress ◽

Dynamic Global Vegetation Model ◽

Forest Growth Model

Abstract. Water stress is a defining characteristic of Mediterranean ecosystems, and is likely to become more severe in the coming decades. Simulation models are key tools for making predictions, but our current understanding of how soil moisture controls ecosystem functioning is not sufficient to adequately constrain parameterisations. Canopy-scale flux data from four forest ecosystems with Mediterranean-type climates were used in order to analyse the physiological controls on carbon and water flues through the year. Significant non-stomatal limitations on photosynthesis were detected, along with lesser changes in the conductance-assimilation relationship. New model parameterisations were derived and implemented in two contrasting modelling approaches. The effectiveness of two models, one a dynamic global vegetation model ("ORCHIDEE"), and the other a forest growth model particularly developed for Mediterranean simulations ("GOTILWA+"), was assessed and modelled canopy responses to seasonal changes in soil moisture were analysed in comparison with in situ flux measurements. In contrast to commonly held assumptions, we find that changing the ratio of conductance to assimilation under natural, seasonally-developing, soil moisture stress is not sufficient to reproduce forest canopy CO2 and water fluxes. However, accurate predictions of both CO2 and water fluxes under all soil moisture levels encountered in the field are obtained if photosynthetic capacity is assumed to vary with soil moisture. This new parameterisation has important consequences for simulated responses of carbon and water fluxes to seasonal soil moisture stress, and should greatly improve our ability to anticipate future impacts of climate changes on the functioning of ecosystems in Mediterranean-type climates.

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