ISHS Acta Horticulturae 559: V International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Current Trends for Suistainable Technologies
EFFECTS OF EC LEVEL OF THE NUTRIENT SOLUTION ON YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF TOMATOES |
| Authors: | I.H. Tüzel, Y. Tüzel, A. Gül, R.Z. Eltez |
| Keywords: | Salinity, variety, blossom-end rot, fruit quality |
| Abstract:
This research was conducted in an unheated greenhouse during autumn and spring seasons of 1998 and 1999 to determine the effect of EC levels of the nutrient solution on yield and fruit quality of different tomato varieties. Cultivars 189 F1 and 870 F1 were grown in autumn season. Sowing and planting dates were July 20 and August 28, 1998. In spring, cvs. FA 361 F1 and Target F1 seeds were sown on January 4 and plants were transferred to the pots filled with perlite on March 12, 1999. Plants were planted in the pots at 95x25 cm spacing and were fed with a complete nutrient solution at an electrical conductivity of (a) 2.0 (control), (b) 4.0, (c) 6.0 and (d) 8.0 dS.m-1. Total yield, harvested fruit number, average fruit weight, fruit size and some other fruit quality parameters (dry matter content DM-, total soluble solids TSS-, titratable acidity TA-, pH and EC of fruit juice) and blossom-end rot (BER) incidence were determined. EC level of the nutrient solution was found significantly effective on yield and fruit quality. Increasing EC levels of nutrient solution reduced the yield and fruit size, and increased BER incidence, however, fruit EC, TSS, TA and DM contents increased with increasing EC levels. Variety x EC level interaction was not found to be significantly different, however varieties were found significantly different in respect to yield and fruit size in autumn season. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
