scholarly journals (307) NFT versus Subirrigation: II. Tomato Fruit Quality Grown in Closed Soilless Systems under Salinity or Water Stress

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1011D-1011
Author(s):  
Francesco Montesano ◽  
Cristina Ferulli ◽  
Angelo Parente ◽  
Francesco Serio ◽  
Pietro Santamaria

Nutrient solutions (NS) containing moderate to high concentrations of salts are frequently supplied to improve the taste of tomato fruits grown in soilless systems. The aim of this study was to determine whether salinity and water stress affect the tomato fruit quality similarly. The research was conducted in Mola di Bari, Italy, during Autumn 2004, and compared the nutrient film technique (NFT) with the trough-bench technique [Subirrigation (SUB)] in terms of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Kabiria) fruit quality. In the NFT, the plants were grown with two electrical conductivity (EC) levels (2–4 and 6–8 dS·m-1) of NS. The highest EC was obtained by increasing all the ions in the NS. In the SUB system, two water tensions (-4 and -8 kPa) of substrate (perlite) were examinated. At harvest, in each cluster (six/plant), fruit dry matter (DM) and total soluble solids (TSS) were determinated. In the fourth and sixth cluster, vitamin C content and titratable acidity were determined. Total yield was not influenced by either soilless system, while the average weight of the fruit was lower in the SUB. The DM and TTS were influenced by soilless system (on average, 6.6 vs 7.3 g/100 g of fresh matter and 5.3 vs. 5.9 °Brix, with NFT and SUB, respectively). Both of the stresses resulted in the increase of DM and TSS, principally in SUB (water stress) in respect to NFT (salinity stress), while vitamin C and titratable acidity were not influenced by soilless system or water/salinity stress (25.2 mg/100 g fresh matter and 0.45 g/100 mL of citric acid juice, respectively). Results of NFT with the highest EC of NS exceeded 9 dS·m-1, without any stress symptoms in the plants, while EC in the SUB system remained unchanged (about 2.5 dS·m-1).

Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hernández-Hernández ◽  
Quiterio-Gutiérrez ◽  
Cadenas-Pliego ◽  
Ortega-Ortiz ◽  
Hernández-Fuentes ◽  
...  

The effects of nanoparticles (NPs) on plants are contrasting; these depend on the model plant, the synthesis of the nanoparticles (concentration, size, shape), and the forms of application (foliar, substrate, seeds). For this reason, the objective of this study was to report the impact of different concentrations of selenium (Se) and copper (Cu) NPs on yield, antioxidant capacity, and quality of tomato fruit. The different concentrations of Se and Cu NPs were applied to the substrate every 15 days (five applications). The yield was determined until day 102 after the transplant. Non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant compounds were determined in the leaves and fruits as well as the fruit quality at harvest. The results indicate that tomato yield was increased by up to 21% with 10 mg L−1 of Se NPs. In leaves, Se and Cu NPs increased the content of chlorophyll, vitamin C, glutathione, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazolin-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and phenylalanine ammonia liasa (PAL). In fruits, they increased vitamin C, glutathione, flavonoids, firmness, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity. The combination of Se and Cu NPs at optimal concentrations could be a good alternative to improve tomato yield and quality, but more studies are needed to elucidate their effects more clearly.


2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-135
Author(s):  
Matias Siueia Júnior ◽  
Maria Ligia de Souza Silva ◽  
Anderson Ricardo Trevizam ◽  
Valdemar Faquin ◽  
Deivisson Ferreira da Silva

Nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) are nutrients that, in addition to influencing plant growth and production, interfere with processes related to postharvest fruit quality. In the present study, N x S interaction was evaluated in the postharvest quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using 5 dm3 capacity vessels containing a 0-20 cm layer of a dystropherric Red Latosol. A 5 x 3 factorial design was used, with combinations of five doses of N (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg dm-3) and three doses of S (0, 60 and 120 mg dm-3) distributed in a completely randomized design, with four repetitions. After harvest, the attributes of fruit quality were evaluated: firmness, pH, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (AT), soluble solids ratio and titratable acidity (SS / AT), vitamin C, lycopene and beta-carotene. An increase in firmness was observed, as well as the content of soluble solids, titratable acidity and the SS / AT ratio of the fruits as a result of the interaction N x S. However, this interaction favoured the reduction of the contents of vitamin C, lycopene and beta-carotene, and the quality characteristics of tomato fruit in relation to the recommended values. Only the increasing doses of N favoured a higher pH in the tomato fruits.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramadan A. Hassanein ◽  
Ehab A. Salem ◽  
Ahmed A. Zahran

AbstractThis study was performed to explore the efficacy of combining more than one postharvest treatment in maintaining some quality attributes and reducing fungal pathogenicity in cold-stored guava fruits. The investigated postharvest treatments included the control, CaCl2(4%), lemongrass oil (2 dm3kg−1), gamma (γ) irradiation (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 kGy), 0.4 kGy γ irradiation + CaCl2(4%), and 0.4 kGy γ irradiation + lemongrass oil (2 dm3kg−1). The studied physiochemical attributes included weight loss, decay percentage, fruit firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), and vitamin C content. Different fungal species were also isolated from decayed fruits and were identified asAlternaria alternata,Alternaria solani,Aspergillus niger,Botrytis cinerea,Fusarium solaniandRhizopus stolonifer. The severity of infection for the different fungi was determined, and anin vitroantifungal assay was conducted for lemongrass oil. All the investigated treatments generally reduced decay and water loss percentages, and controlled TSS, TA and vitamin C decrements that occurred during cold storage. On the other hand, higher irradiation doses generally increased fruit softness, and the 0.4 kGy γ dose did not contribute to the overall fruit quality when coupled with CaCl2and lemongrass oil, compared to CaCl2and lemongrass oil treatments alone.


HortScience ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 721-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilip R. Panthee ◽  
Chunxue Cao ◽  
Spencer J. Debenport ◽  
Gustavo R. Rodríguez ◽  
Joanne A. Labate ◽  
...  

There is a growing interest by consumers to purchase fresh tomatoes with improved quality traits including lycopene, total soluble solids (TSS), vitamin C, and total titratable acid (TTA) content. As a result, there are considerable efforts by tomato breeders to improve tomato for these traits. However, suitable varieties developed for one location may not perform the same in different locations. This causes a problem for plant breeders because it is too labor-intensive to develop varieties for each specific location. The objective of this study was to determine the extent of genotype × environment (G×E) interaction that influences tomato fruit quality. To achieve this objective, we grew a set of 42 diverse tomato genotypes with different fruit shapes in replicated trials in three locations: North Carolina, New York, and Ohio. Fruits were harvested at the red ripe stage and analyzed for lycopene, TSS, vitamin C, and TTA. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) among tomato genotypes, locations, and their interaction. Further analysis of quality traits from individual locations revealed that there was as much as 211% change in performance of some genotypes in a certain location compared with the average performance of a genotype. Lycopene was found to be most influenced by the environment, whereas TTA was the least influenced. This was in agreement with heritability estimates observed in the study for these quality traits, because heritability estimate for lycopene was 16%, whereas that for TTA was 87%. The extent of G×E interaction found for the fruit quality traits in the tomato varieties included in this study may be useful in identifying optimal locations for future field trials by tomato breeders aiming to improve tomato fruit quality.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Carlos Agostinho Balate ◽  
Douglas Correa de Souza ◽  
Luis Felipe Lima e Silva ◽  
Luciane Vilela Resende ◽  
Sergio Tonetto de Freitas ◽  
...  

The use of abscisic acid (ABA) in agriculture has increased in the last few years due to the increase in ABA commercial availability at lower costs. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of exogenous ABA on tomato fruit quality parameters such as soluble solids (SS), total and soluble pectins, titratable acidity (TA) and flesh firmness. Tomatoes from the cultivar ‘Santa Clara’ were the study followed a complete randomized block desig, with four treatments in five repetitions. The treatments were plants not treated with ABA (control), foliar sprayed with ABA at 500 mg L-1, 150 mL drench with ABA at 500 mg L-1, or foliar plus drench treated with ABA. After harvesting, the physicochemical characteristics of the fruits were evaluated in the laboratory. All treatments were weekly applied to the plants from anthesis to harvest at fully maturity. Root treatment increased SS by up to 26.12%, increased ratio SS/TA, firmness and decreased soluble pectin. According to the results, it can be concluded that the application of ABA to leaves and roots can improve fruit quality by increasing the SS, ratio SS/TA. The method of application affects the SS content.


2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Bal ◽  
S. Altintas

Trichoderma harzianum was applied to seedling growing media (a peat and soil-based mixture or greenhouse soil) at the time of sowing, at transplanting to vials and at planting. The factorial experiment using 2 seedling growing media, 2 cultivars and 4 dosages of T. harzianum at 0 (control), 4 g/m2, 10 g/m2 and 24 g/m2 showed that the Trichoderma dosage had no significant effect on the yield or fruit quality. None of the 3 factor interactions between the criteria studied, that is, total yield, marketable yield, early yield, individual fruit weight, total soluble solids and titratable acidity, were significant except for fruit diameter. The 3 factor combination of Peat × Belleveu F1 × 10 g/m2 resulted in the highest total yield, marketable yield and early yield with 1552, 1373 and 681 g/plant, respectively. The interaction between media and cultivars was significant for all the yield characteristics studied. However, the main effect of T. harzianum on early yield was the highest at 4 g/m2, producing 527 g/plant in comparison to the control with 374 g/plant. It was, therefore, hypothesised that the positive effect of T. harzianum, observed in the early yield, may be extended to the whole growing period by further applications, that is, by periodical renewal of the T. harzianum population at the root zone.


1993 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl E. Niedziela ◽  
Paul V. Nelson ◽  
Daniel H. Willits ◽  
Mary M. Peet

Commercial recommendations exist for using short-term salt-shocks on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) to improve fruit quality. Six experiments were conducted to 1) assess the influence of nutrient concentration and short-term salt-shocks on fruit quality and yield and 2) identify a vegetative predictor of subsequent fruit quality. The first objective was addressed in three nutrient film technique (NFT) experiments (Expts. 1-3). Four treatments were applied: two maintained constant at two baseline concentrations (0.25X and 1X-commercial level) and two provided salt-shock periods of 30 min, twice daily. There were no effects of baseline concentration or salt-shocks on total number and weight of marketable fruit. Fruit quality was better at the 1X baseline concentration as observed by higher titratable acidity (Expt. 2), higher percent dry matter (Expts. 2 and 3), higher soluble solids concentration (Expt. 2), and lower pH (Expts. 2 and 3), however, weight per marketable fruit was lower (Expt. 2). Salt-shocks had little effect on fruit quality, refuting its commercial potential. Salt-shocks decreased fruit pH (Expts. 1 and 3). However, titratable acidity increased at the 0.25X level and decreased at the 1X level (Expt. 3). In Expt. 2, but not in Expt. 3, citrate concentration in the fifth leaf from the apex of young vegetative plants was correlated with subsequent fruit quality. Three additional experiments in static hydroponics with vegetative plants showed no significant differences in leaf citrate levels due to a single, short-term salt-shock. Thus, citrate is not a good predictor of fruit quality.


HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 522C-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celso L. Moretti ◽  
Steven A. Sargent ◽  
Donald J. Huber ◽  
Rolf Puschmann

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) fruits, cv. Solarset, were harvested at the mature-green stage and treated with 50 μL/L ethylene at 20C. Breaker fruits (<10% red coloration) were dropped from 40 cm onto a smooth, solid surface and held along with undropped fruits at 20°C and 85% relative humidity. At table-ripe stage, pericarp, placental, and locular tissue were individually excised and analyzed for total carotenoids, total soluble sugars, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, density (locule tissue), polygalacturonase activity, and electrolyte efflux (pericarp tissue). Internal bruising caused by impact forces significantly affected pericarp and locule tissues, but not placental tissue. For bruised locule tissue, total carotenoids content decreased by 37.1%, vitamin C content by 15.6%, and titratable acidity by 15.3% as compared to control. However, density was increased by 3.0%. For bruised pericarp tissue, vitamin C content decreased by 16.5%, while polygalacturonase activity and electrolyte efflux increased by 33.3% and 24.8%, respectively. The development of abnormal ripening following an impact was confined to locule and pericarp tissues and appears to be related to the disruption of cellular structure and stimulation of enzymic activity.


HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 689c-689
Author(s):  
Raguel Cano—M ◽  
Rebecca L. Darnell

The effects of different GA3 concentrations and application times on fruit set, fruit development period, and fruit quality in rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) were studied. Flower clusters were sprayed with 100 or 250 ppm GA3 at 90% full bloom and again 7 days later, or with 125 ppm GA3 at 90% full bloom and again 7, 21, and 42 days later, under greenhouse conditions. Fruit set was monitored every 10 days and fruit weight, fruit development period, soluble solids, and titratable acidity were measured at harvest. Fruit set in GA3 treatments averaged 69 to 76% compared to an average of 43% for the pollinated control. Weight of GA3 treated berries averaged 1.2, g while that of pollinated berries averaged 2.0 g. However, calculated total yield was greater for the GA3 treatments compared to the pollinated control, averaging 244 and 206 g/treatment, respectively. GA3 increased the fruit development period by 2 to 11 days, depending on the treatment. Soluble solids and titratable acidity were not affected by any treatment.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Kazem Souri ◽  
Sara Dehnavard

AbstractThis study was done to evaluate the effects of foliar application of ammonium sulfate on growth and fruit quality of tomato plants under hydroponic culture system. Over four months of tomato plant growth, plants were sprayed once per week with different concentrations of ammonium sulfate (0, 50, 100 and 200 mM), as well as with 50 mM every second day. Foliar application of ammonium sulfate led to reductions in many growth and quality parameters, and higher ammonium concentrations exerted greater reductions. Number of leaves, fresh weight of shoots, percentage of leaf dry weight and fruit yield were negatively associated with the treatment with ammonium sulfate. However, leaf nitrogen concentration, fruit diameter and fruit length increased significantly by the application of ammonium. Fruit quality factors were also affected by ammonium sulfate spray treatments. The maximum pH, titratable acidity and total soluble solids (TSS) were obtained from the lowest (50 mM) weekly application of ammonium sulfate. The results indicate that foliar application of ammonium in moderate concentrations could have beneficial effects on plant growth and quality of tomato fruit.


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