Yield and Quality of Tomato Fruits, and Changes of mineral Concentration in Different Strengths of Nutrient Solution

Abstract

Tomato plants, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv. TVR-2 were grown in a deep-water culture system. After pinching above the 5th truss, plants were treated with different strengths (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5x standard strength) of nutrient solution, and yield and quality of fruits as well as changes in mineral concn. in the nutrient solution were determined during the cultivation period from the middle of April to the end of July. The standard nutrient solution contained NO3-N, P, K, Ca and Mg at concn. of 16, 4, 8, 8 and 4 m-equiv./l, resp. The 1.5x standard strength solution resulted in significantly higher soluble solids content and higher titratable acidity in tomato juice. On the other hand, fruit yield was slightly decreased. % of cracked fruit and blossom-end rot fruit also decreased. Therefore, increasing the strength of nutrient solution after pinching would improve fruit quality with only slight decrease in fruit yield. [From En summ.] *Copyright (1989) International Food Information Service (IFIS Publishing). All Rights Reserved